Page 58 - Demo

Case Study 9: Diabetic RetinopathyScenario:%u2022 A 55-year-old man with a 15-year history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes presents for an eye check-up. He has no specific visual complaints. On fundoscopic examination, you notice multiple dot and blot hemorrhages, hard exudates, and a few cotton wool spots in both eyes.Clincher:%u2022 The presence of characteristic retinal findings in a patient with long-standing diabetes is indicative of diabetic retinopathy.Explanation:%u2022 Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication of diabetes. The findings of dot and blot hemorrhages, hard exudates, and cotton wool spots are typical of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Despite the patient being asymptomatic, these findings warrant close monitoring and optimization of glycemic control. Regular eye examinations are crucial for diabetic patients to detect and manage retinopathy early, preventing vision-threatening complications such as macular edema or proliferative changes.