Treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is aserious complication of diabetic retinopathy and, without treatment, leads to complications ranging from massive loss of visual acuity to functional blindness. With timely diagnosis within the framework of suitable screening measures, the risk of blindness can be massively reduced by appropriate treatment. Panretinal photocoagulation remains the gold standard of therapy. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEG) therapy has advantages over panretinal photocoagulation alone at least in the first 2-3years of therapy, in particular as aresult of the resolution of neovascular changes and macular oedema. If persistent vitreous haemorrhage or tractive retinal detachment occurs, vitrectomy is indicated, which must not be delayed if the central retina is threatened.