Correspondence (letter to the editor): Important Risk Factors Were Not Included

Schorr and colleagues in their clear overview of the prevention and therapy of diabetic retinopathy point out crucial measures for the treatment of vision-impairing complications (1). Symptoms and risk factors are displayed neatly in a table. We wish to add that in the context of diabetic retinal ischemia, rubeosis iridis (neovascularization of the iris) may develop early on, which is a sign of an impending threat in terms of the severity of the condition (2). Every diabetes patient should be checked out regularly for signs of neovascularization at the pupillary border of the iris. Onset of rubeosis may be present when the proliferative diabetic retinal changes are not yet very pronounced; occasionally vascular proliferations are seen exclusively in the periphery of the retina (3). Rubeosis iridis is a diagnostically important warning signal, on the one hand; on the other hand, ophthalmologists will initiate treatment at the earliest opportunity, in order to prevent the threat of neovascular glaucoma.

Schorr and colleagues include arterial hypertension as a crucial risk factor. However, patients’ nicotine misuse was not mentioned as an additional risk factor (4).