Editing Retinopathy (section)

=== Proliferative retinopathy ===
[[File:Fundus Proliferative retinopathy EDA01.JPG|thumb|Proliferative retinopathy during exam]]

Proliferative retinopathy is the result of aberrant blood flow to the retina due to blood vessel overgrowth, or neovascularization. These pathologically overgrown blood vessels are often fragile, weak, and ineffective at perfusing the retinal tissues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?sectionid=79725409&bookid=1130&jumpsectionID=98704926&Resultclick=2|title=Use of the Hand-Held Ophthalmoscope {{!}} Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19e {{!}} AccessMedicine {{!}} McGraw-Hill Medical|website=accessmedicine.mhmedical.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref> These weak, fragile vessels are also often leaky, allowing fluids, protein, and other debris to leach out into the retina. They are also prone to [[Bleeding|hemorrhage]] due to their poor strength. This makes proliferative types of retinopathy more risky since vessel hemorrhaging often leads to vision loss and blindness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?sectionid=40279783&bookid=376&jumpsectionID=40289043&Resultclick=2|title=Chapter 52. Atherothrombosis: Disease Burden, Activity, and Vulnerability {{!}} Hurst's The Heart, 13e {{!}} AccessMedicine {{!}} McGraw-Hill Medical|website=accessmedicine.mhmedical.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref> Many of the causes mentioned in non-proliferative retinopathy may also cause proliferative retinopathy at later stages. Angiogenesis and neovascularization tend to be a later manifestation of non-proliferative retinopathy. Many types of non-proliferative retinopathies result in tissue ischemia or direct retinal damage. The body responds by trying to increase blood flow to damaged retinal tissues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?sectionid=40229327&bookid=387&jumpsectionID=40231861&Resultclick=2|title=Chapter 10. Retina {{!}} Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology, 18e {{!}} AccessMedicine {{!}} McGraw-Hill Medical|website=accessmedicine.mhmedical.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-07}}</ref> [[Diabetes mellitus]], which causes [[diabetic retinopathy]], is the most common cause of proliferative retinopathy in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata/diabetic|title=Diabetic Retinopathy {{!}} National Eye Institute|website=nei.nih.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-03-07}}</ref>