Importance of fluorescein angiography in the early detection and therapy of diabetic retinopathy.

This work presents the results of the clinical analysis of the frequency of diabetic preretinopathy (preclinical, pre-ophthalmoscopic diabetic retinopathy) verified by fluorescein angiography, carried out in adult diabetic patients with short diabetes duration and without any ophthalmoscopically visible retinal changes, 71 ophthalmoscopically negative diabetics have been examined (24 insulin-dependent and 47 non-insulin-dependent), aged from 38 to 55 years, with the duration of diabetes up to 10 years. Diabetic preretinopathy has been discovered in 42.3% cases: 62.5% in insulin-dependent diabetics and 31.9% in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. This examination is important, because it makes possible a better disease evaluation and early medical treatment.