Course of retinopathy in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a ten-year study.

The prevalence and development of retinal changes were longitudinally documented from 1978 to 1987 in 112 insulin-dependent diabetic children by means of fluorescein angiography and fundus photography. At the end of the study period, 43 patients (38.4%) developed retinal changes, most of which were classified as minimal. Age, diabetes duration, puberty and long-term metabolic control were found to be independent factors affecting the development of retinopathy.