Screening and treatment of retinopathy To reduce the risk of developing retinopathy or delay its progression, optimal glycemic and blood pressure control is recommended. Improve screening for diabetic retinopathy. Adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 1 diabetes should receive an initial comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist under dilated pupils within 5 years of the onset of diabetes. patients with type 2 diabetes should receive an initial comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist under dilated pupils as soon as possible after diagnosis. Thereafter, patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes should receive annual examinations by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. High-quality fundus photography can detect most clinically significant diabetic retinopathy, but it is not a substitute for a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination performed by a specialized ophthalmologist. To improve the effectiveness of treatment, patients with any degree of macular edema, severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), or any proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) should be referred promptly to an ophthalmologist with a thorough understanding of and experience in the management and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. For patients with high-risk PDR, clinically severe macular edema, and some severe NPDR, laser photocoagulation can reduce the risk of blindness. Retinopathy is not a contraindication to aspirin therapy with cardioprotective effects, as such aspirin therapy does not increase the risk of retinal hemorrhage.