Word parts
retin/o retina-pathy disease
What it means
Years of high blood sugar weaken the tiny vessels at the back of the eye. They can leak fluid or blood, and new, fragile vessels may grow. Early on there may be no symptoms; later, vision blurs or is lost. It is a leading cause of blindness in adults.
For the nurse
Teach clients with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year and to keep blood glucose and blood pressure in their goal ranges.
At a glance
| Spanish | retinopatía diabética |
|---|
Related terms
diabetes mellitus
A long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.
hyperglycemia
A blood glucose level above normal, over 100 mg/dL when fasting.
retinal
Relating to the retina, the thin layer at the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain.