Diabetic Retinopathy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes—Occurrence and Screening Using Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy, the principles for pediatric care of patients with diabetes, and the utility of optical coherence tomography. Pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes should be screened for diabetic retinopathy upon the lapse of 5 years following the diagnosis. The patients in the time of puberty, who should be screened promptly after the diabetes diagnosis, and patients with type 2 diabetes are the exceptions. Special attention must be paid not only to retinopathy, but also to other possible concomitant conditions, such as cataract, refractive errors, or neuropathy. New techniques, such as optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), may contribute greatly to the early detection of retinopathy, facilitating the decision to modify the treatment. The application of modern insulin pumps with continuous glucose monitoring systems has greatly diminished the incidence rate of early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy in the pediatric population.

Keywords

• diabetic retinopathy
• children
• type 1 diabetes
• OCT
• optical coherence tomography
• screening