The internist's role in managing diabetic retinopathy: screening for early detection.

Although laser treatment keeps vision damaged by diabetic retinopathy from becoming worse, it only rarely improves vision. If primary care physicians wait until the patient complains of blurred vision, it is too late--there is already permanent retinal injury, and the lost vision almost never can be restored. Unfortunately, only half of patients with diabetes undergo an appropriate examination every year. Only by teamwork between primary care physician and ophthalmologist can blindness from diabetic retinopathy be reduced.