[Relationship between loss of sight and mortality in diabetics with retinopathy (a retrospective study over the terminal 5 years) (author's transl)].

1642 diabetics with retinopathy were controlled at half-yearly intervals over 4 to 10 years (6 years on average) using fundus photography, fluoresceinangiography and measurement of visual acuity. 83 of these patients died and the data documented in 43 patients over a mean period of 5.2 years prior to death allowed a retrospective evaluation of the clinical findings and therapeutic results. 27 patients had undergone bilateral and 16 unilateral photocoagulation at the beginning of the observation period. 9 patients were blind already at the outset. Of 13 patients who became blind during the observation period 10 had not undergone photocoagulation of the affected eye. The time span between blindness and death was shorter (1.5 years) in the 3 patients (5 eyes) who had undergone photocoagulation than in the untreated diabetics (4.3 years). All 23 patients in whom the initial visual acuity was maintained had undergone photocoagulation. Presence of florid diabetic retinopathy or nephropathy adversely influenced the results of photocoagulation.