RVEEH Webinar Series – Medical Retina: Diabetes and the eye

RVEEH Webinar Series: Diabetes and the eye

Date: 14/09/2026 (AEST)

Venue: Online, VIC, 3002

Provider: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Contact: Kerryn Baker, [E] medicaleducation@eyeandear.org.au, [P] 03 9929 8528

Activity Outline

This presentation will provide an overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy, highlighting the impact of chronic hyperglycemia on the retinal microvasculature. Participants will gain an understanding of the different stages of diabetic retinopathy, including non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema.

The session will explore major risk factors associated with disease progression and discuss evidence-based screening recommendations that support early diagnosis. Advances in retinal imaging technologies, including fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT), will be reviewed to demonstrate their role in improving diagnostic accuracy.

Current management approaches will also be examined, including glycemic control, blood pressure management, laser photocoagulation and intravitreal pharmacotherapy.

By emphasizing early intervention and multidisciplinary management, this presentation aims to enhance optometrsits’ knowledge of diabetic retinopathy and promote best practices for preserving visual function and improving patient outcomes.

We will review the RVEEH referral and triage guidelines and discuss practical referral pathways.

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/the-royal-victorian-eye-and-ear-hospital-optometry-webinar-series-2026

Learning Objectives

• Define diabetic retinopathy and describe its significance as a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus.
• Explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying diabetic retinopathy, including retinal microvascular damage, ischaemia, and neovascularisation.
• Differentiate between the stages of diabetic retinopathy, including mild, moderate, and severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular oedema.
• Identify key risk factors associated with the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy, including duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and pregnancy.
• Recognise common clinical manifestations and understand the importance of regular eye examinations in asymptomatic patients.
• Discuss current screening recommendations and diagnostic modalities used for the detection and monitoring of diabetic retinopathy.
• Evaluate evidence-based treatment options, including systemic risk-factor management, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy and laser treatment
• Apply principles of multidisciplinary care to support early intervention, patient education, and prevention of vision-threatening complications.
• Integrate current best-practice recommendations into clinical decision-making to optimise visual outcomes for individuals living with diabetes.

Max CPD hours awarded: 1

Session Information