Staging and Practical Management of Diabetic Retinopathy - Takeaways - MDSpire

Staging and Practical Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

Approximately half of patients who have severe NPDR and nearly 75% of patients who have very severe NPDR will progress to PDR within 1 year.

  • By

  • STEVEN FERRUCCI, OD, FAAO

  • BRENDA YEH, OD, FAAO

  • March 2, 2026

  • 11 min

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  • 1

    Correct staging of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is essential for risk assessment and timely referral to specialists.

  • 2

    The International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy (ICDR) staging system categorizes DR into nonproliferative and proliferative types.

  • 3

    Severe NPDR patients require close monitoring every 2 to 3 months due to high progression risk to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

  • 4

    Diabetic macular edema (DME) can occur at any stage of retinopathy and is a leading cause of vision loss in type 2 diabetes.

  • 5

    GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide may temporarily worsen retinopathy but do not show long-term detrimental effects on progression.

Original Source(s)

Staging and Practical Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

  • by STEVEN FERRUCCI, OD, FAAO, BRENDA YEH, OD, FAAO

  • March 2, 2026

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