Retinopathies: Types, Etiologies, and Outcome

Retinopathy is a broad term that involves damages occurring to the retina. The disease is a serious one, being a significant risk factor for blindness. It might also refer to abnormal blood flow-induced retinal damage or retinal vascular disease. Disturbances in the retinal blood flow can remarkably lead to ischemia and damage to the retina. Moreover, the accumulation of exudates (causing macular edema) and bleeding might cover the photoreceptors on the retina, leading to visual impairment. In the present literature review, we have provided updated evidence regarding the types and causes, and outcomes of retinopathy. Accordingly, a comprehensive search was conducted on the databases, including Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, to identify all relevant articles. Estimates show that retinopathy is highly prevalent among individuals with systemic disorders like diabetes and hypertension. Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathies are the commonest causes of retinopathy. Retinopathy of prematurity is another cause affecting neonates. However, the condition is usually self-limited with no interventions, although highly prevalent in around 40% of newborns. There are two main types of retinopathies, including non-proliferative and proliferative types. Both types can occur as complications of diabetes mellitus, indicating the need to enhance the management of this population and improve the quality of care. Hypertension and poor glycemic control can remarkably determine the outcomes of the disease, implying the need to apply proper health interventions. Neonates with severe retinopathy of prematurity might suffer from severe outcomes, including loss of vision, glaucomas, and cataracts.