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Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities

AI overview

Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA) are abnormalities of the blood vessels that supply the retina of the eye, a sign of diabetic retinopathy.

Key points
  • IRMA is a sign of diabetic retinopathy.
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    abnormalities of the blood vessels that supply the retina of the eye, a sign of diabetic retinopathy
  • IRMA is likely a precursor to retinal neovascularization.
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    likely a precursor to retinal neovascularization
  • IRMA blood vessels are patent and do not leak, unlike neovascular vessels.
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    Since IRMA blood vessels are patent, unlike neovascular vessels, they do not leak
  • IRMA exhibits hyperfluorescence on fluorescein angiography.
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    exhibit hyperfluorescence on fluorescein angiography
  • IRMA is deeper in the retina, has blurrier edges, is more burgundy than red, and does not appear on the optic disc.
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    IRMA is deeper in the retina than neovascularization, has blurrier edges, is more of a burgundy than a red, does not appear on the optic disc
  • IRMA is usually seen after a shorter period of poorly controlled diabetes than neovascularization.
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    usually seen after a shorter period of poorly controlled diabetes than neovascularization
Diagnosis
  • Fluorescein angiography can distinguish IRMA from retinal neovascularization.
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    One way to distinguish IRMA from retinal neovascularization is to perform fluorescein angiography
Treatment
  • Anti-VEGF therapy may be used, with morphological changes visualized on optical coherence tomography angiography.
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    Morphological changes in intraretinal microvascular abnormalities after anti-VEGF therapy visualized on optical coherence tomography angiography
  • Panretinal photocoagulation is associated with IRMA classification.
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    A Proposed Classification of Intraretinal Microvascular Abnormalities in Diabetic Retinopathy Following Panretinal Photocoagulation
Prognosis

IRMA is likely a precursor to retinal neovascularization.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities”. Not medical advice. Verify source →
Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities
Human eye cross-sectional/ retina view
SpecialtyOphthalmology

Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA) are abnormalities of the blood vessels that supply the retina of the eye, a sign of diabetic retinopathy.[1] IRMA can be difficult to distinguish from and is likely a precursor to retinal neovascularization. One way to distinguish IRMA from retinal neovascularization is to perform fluorescein angiography. Since IRMA blood vessels are patent, unlike neovascular vessels, they do not leak, and therefore exhibit hyperfluorescence on fluorescein angiography.[citation needed]

IRMA is deeper in the retina than neovascularization, has blurrier edges, is more of a burgundy than a red, does not appear on the optic disc, and is usually seen after a shorter period of poorly controlled diabetes than neovascularization.[citation needed]

  1. ↑ Shimouchi, Akito; Ishibazawa, Akihiro; Ishiko, Satoshi; Omae, Tsuneaki; Ro-Mase, Tomoko; Yanagi, Yasuo; Yoshida, Akitoshi (9 March 2020). "A Proposed Classification of Intraretinal Microvascular Abnormalities in Diabetic Retinopathy Following Panretinal Photocoagulation". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 61 (3): 34. doi:10.1167/iovs.61.3.34. ISSN 1552-5783. PMC 7401423. PMID 32191287. Retrieved 12 September 2022.