Systemic Factors Affecting Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the world. Apart from local pathophysiological changes happening at the level of retina, various systemic factors also play a role in pathogenesis and progression of DR. In this article, we will discuss systemic factors affecting DR such as hyperglycaemia, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, nephropathy, pregnancy, anaemia and cardiovascular disease, with their association to progression of DR.

Keywords

• Diabetes mellitus
• diabetic retinopathy
• systemic factors