Clinic based diabetic retinopathy screening in a quaternary referral centre in Southern India

to long-term high levels of blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Prolonged hyperglycemia causes irreversible pathological changes in the retina, leading to leaking or bleeding of the blood vessels or the growth of abnormal blood vessel and diabetic macular edema (DME). The international clinical classification of DR is based on the observation of micro vascular changes. The first recognizable vascular abnormalities are micro aneurysms and small haemorrhages, followed by more severe signs of vascular leakage, such as cotton wool spot; and more widespread haemorrhages and neovascularization. Macular edema is a major cause of central vision impairment in persons with diabetic retinopathy. Proliferative diabectic retinopathy is also a reason for severe vision loss in diabetic patients which is either due to Vitreous haemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment involving the macula or combined retinal detachment.