The normal fundus fluorescein angiogram. III. A longitudinal fluorescein angiographic study of the fundus in insulin dependent diabetics without ophthalmoscopically abnormalities.

In 17 insulin dependent diabetics with an apparently normal ophthalmoscopy at the entry of the study, there was a) an individual variation regarding observed fundus elements and b) an intraindividual variation during the observation time of one year, as evident from fundus fluorescein angiography, colour photography and red free filter photography. The examinations were performed on one eye in each subject three times within one year. Hyperfluorescent elements--varying in number from 1 to 5--were found totally in 14 eyes (= 82%). In 6 eyes (= 35%) the number of minute hyperfluorescent fundus elements varied during one year. Hypofluorescent elements were present in 14 eyes (12 eyes with indistinctly and and 2 with distinctly outlined elements) and showed no variation during one year. Eleven eyes (65%) had minute elements--varying in number from 1 to 7--in the colour and red free filter photographs not visualized in the angiograms. After one year 8 red elements were found in 5 eyes, 6 with and 2 without fluorescence. The remaining fluorescent and non-fluorescent elements, constantly present, appeared as minute yellowish spots (n = 37).