| Theme | Ocular Disease in Hemodialysis Patients | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Diabetic retinopathy and hemodialysis | |
| Publish Date | 1998/11 | |
| Author | Muneyasu Takeda | Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo City General Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | Most diabetic patients under maintenance hemodialysis had severe visual disturbances with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, the condition of those with diabetic retinopathy frequently stabilized or improved after the introduction of hemodialysis. Hemodialysis was introduced to treat decreased kidney function,due to diabetic nephropathy, caused by diabetic retinopathy. We must evaluate whether these retinal lesions are treatable by hemodialysis or not, based on the degree and progression of retinal findings, such as retinal hemorrhages, hard exudate, cotton wool spots, and vitreous hemorrhages. When severe diffuse retinal edema and recurrent vitreous hemorrhages advances, in spite of ophthalmic treatments(laser photocoagulation and/or vitreous surgery), the patient should receive hemodialysis a little earlier in the course of treatment than usual. Before and after the introduction of hemodialysis,patients must receive careful ophthalmic treatment such as laser photocoagulation and vitreous surgery, along with medical therapy. |
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