Diabetic retinopathy.

Retinal involvement from diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of new blindness in the United States. Many diabetic patients, though they have perfect vision and no ocular complaints or symptoms, harbor retinal pathology capable of leading to severe loss of vision. Therefore, all medical personnel caring for the diabetic patient must recognize the importance of dilated pupil retinal examinations by an ophthalmologist or vitreoretinal surgeon. Lack of timely diagnosis and treatment is a major factor leading to blindness from diabetic retinopathy. On a more positive note, prompt laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy can reduce severe visual loss by more than 50%.