Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy - Traction Retinal Detachment, Another Example

This is the fundus photograph of the right eye of a 24 year old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus of 14 years duration. She had not been examined by an ophthalmologist on an annual basis and developed advanced disease. New vessels are present in many locations. One particular frond is indicated by the blue arrow. New vessels are the precursor to fibrous tissue that often grows in a C-shaped pattern surrounding the macula (green arrows). The new vessels are fragile, and often break and bleed (yellow arrows). The fibrous tissue contracts and pulls the retina up into the vitreous cavity (traction retinal detachment, orange ellipse).