Unit 6: Differential Diagnosis of Blurred Vision

Ophthalmologists traditionally classify diabetic retinopathy into the following groups:

• Mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• Moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• Severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• Very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• Non high risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• High risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• Advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy


• Maculopathy

More recently UK ophthalmologists have adopted this classification

You do not need to remember the details of this system, but you should know that there is a spectrum of severity.