[Incidence of and treatment outcome for diabetic maculopathy--material from the Eye Clinic in Wrocçaw in 1991-1994].

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence of ME, its characteristics, and results of its treatment with laser coagulation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the analysed group there were 478 subjects with diabetes mellitus--84 with a diagnosis before 30 years of age and 394 with a diagnosis at 30 years of age or older. In the older-onset group there were 64% taking insulin. Mean age of the group was 61 years and mean period of duration of diabetes was 16 years. The methods of ophthalmological examination included stereoophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. In 845 examined eyes there were 832 eyes with mild-to-severe nonproliferative and moderate-to-high risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

RESULTS

The incidence of macular edema was 81.6%. These data suggest high incidence of macular edema and its high severity (V < 0.2 = 47%) over the 15-years period of duration of diabetes. Treatment included focal coagulation, macular grid and PRK performed with argon laser.

CONCLUSION

The results of laser coagulation demonstrated that focal photocoagulation was effective in reducing the risk of moderate visual loss. When macular edema was more severe, macular grid before scatter (panretinal) photocoagulation for proliferative retinopathy decreased the frequency of persistent ME.