[A new classification scheme of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (author's transl)].

The correlation of the topography of certain areas of the fundus, which exhibit relentless progression of microangiopathy (within the framework of general fluctuations in the course of the disease), as well as the degree of predominance of capillary perfusion and permeability disturbances in these respective areas justifies a classification of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy into three distinct types: (1) pre-maculopathy/maculopathy in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR), (2) nonproliferative DR, and (3) non-proliferative DR lacking a tendency towards vasoproliferation or maculopathy. These results are based on regular biannual angiographic examinations of six different standard fundus areas in a total of 365 patients with non-proliferative DR. This scheme of classification has prognostic as well as therapeutic consequences.