Modern OptometryThe Four Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

Except in cases when you are concerned about or have confirmed a diagnosis of DME, patients with moderate NPDR do not need to be sent to a retina specialist. Patients with moderate NPDR should also be examined every six to eight months since they run a 12% to 27% risk of developing PDR within a year. Finally, patients with severe NPDR are at a significant risk of disease progression and irreversible vision loss, have a 52% chance of acquiring PDR within a year, and are almost certainly dealing with neuropathy elsewhere.