Chinese Guideline of Diabetic Retinopathy was developed by the Chinese Ocular Fundus Society and Chinese Ophthalmological Society. It is the first prevention and intervention guideline document of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in China. Clinical pathways and strategies are clearly identified and described in this document for DR screening, referral, intervention, systematic management and patient education. The new DR stage classification combines the first Chinese DR classification since 1985 and the updated international classification of DR. This guideline is based on Chinese health care system, but also reflects the tradition and innovation, and reaches international practice standard. Learning and practice the guideline will promote the prevention and reduce the occurrence and development of DR in China.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the working-age population. In addition to optimizing the hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and other risk factors, regular fundus examination is essential for early diagnosis asymptomatic DR and timely treat the sight-threatening DR, so as to reduce blindness and severe visual impairment caused by DR. Clinical practice guidelines for the screening and management of DR have been implemented throughout the world, but there are reasonable differences between existing guidelines in the recommended timing of first retinal examination, screening intervals, methods for examination and criteria for referral to an ophthalmologist. It is of great clinical significance to have a detailed understanding of the current guidelines for DR screening and their clinical basis.
“The international classification of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)(The 3rd edition)”, retains current definitions such as zone, stage, and circumferential extent of disease, however, there are also many updates. Major updates include: (1) increase of the definition of posterior pole Ⅱ; (2) introduction of a new concept "notch"; (3) definition of stage 5's subcategorization; (4) recognition that a continuous spectrum of vascular abnormality exists from normal to plus disease. Updates also include the definition of “aggressive ROP” to replace “aggressive-posterior ROP”. ROP regression and reactivation are described in detail, with additional description of long-term sequelae.
With the popularity and development of artificial intelligence (AI), disease screening systems based on AI algorithms are gradually emerging in the medical field. Such systems can be used for primary screening of diseases to relieve the pressure on primary health care. In recent years, AI algorithms have demonstrated good performance in the analysis and identification of lesion signs in the macular region of fundus color photography, and a screening system for fundus lesion signs applicable to primary screening is bound to emerge in the future. Therefore, to standardize the design and clinical application of the macular region lesion sign screening systems based on AI algorithms, the Ocular Fundus Diseases Group of Chinese Ophthalmological Society, in collaboration with relevant experts, has developed this guideline after investigating issues, discussing production evidence, and holding guideline workshops. This guideline aims to establish uniform standards for the definition of the macular region and lesion signs, AI adoption scenarios, algorithm model construction, datasets establishment and labeling, architecture and functions design, and image data acquisition for the screening system to guide the implementation of the screening work.
Evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy in China (2022) is based on evidences in recent clinical trials and a system of Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation of evidence quality and strength of recommendations. The main key points around why the diabetic macular edema (DME) changes the classification, what thresholds for initiating anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug therapy; eyes with center-involved DME (CI-DME) and good vision for clinical significant macular edema still treated by focal laser even with good vision, the clinical pathway for CI-DME changes first-line treatment from laser to anti-VEGF, loading dose of anti-VEGF for CI-DME in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) from 3 injections up to 4-5 injections is recommended; severe non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR with vision impairment but without hemorrhages and retinal traction could be considered first treatment of anti-VEGF comparing to initiate pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) (weakly recommended), PRP is still gold-standard for progressive non-perfusion area of retina. With the rapid development of DR evaluation devices such as optical coherence tomography, wide-angle optical coherence tomography angiography and wide-angle fluorescein fundus angiography, imaging biomarkers have been provided for the degree of DR lesion, treatment response and prognosis. It is believed that the clinical practice will be promoted a new height by the 2022 edition of Chinese DR guideline.