8.2 DME Classifications

Summary

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) refers to the presence of the atypical retinal microvasculature seen in people with diabetes mellitus. The National Eye Institute projects that 7.2 million adults in the United States, aged 40 years and above, will suffer from DR by the year 2020. The disease is classified into two types: non-proliferative and proliferative. In general, direct ophthalmoscopy allows for an adequate assessment of DR presence. However, slit-lamp biomicroscopy with a condensing lens can enhance the evaluation of the disease. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is often assessed separately from DR as its course of progression can run independently from that of DR.