Current Approaches and Developments in the Surgical Treatment of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Complications

According to World Health Organization data, diabetes mellitus (DM) affects 425 million people in the world today, most of them from low- and middle-income countries and social segments. About a third of diabetic patients have diabetic retinopathy of any stage (DR), and 7% have proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Even in the ETDRS study, which included cases with timely laser photocoagulation, the 5-year cumulative incidence of vitrectomy was found to be 5.3%. The incidence of PDR and associated blindness has decreased owing to the improvements in diabetes monitoring and treatment. Also, the application of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and refinement of surgical techniques have greatly improved the management of diabetic eye complications.