INCOMPLETE LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION TREATME NT FOR DIABETIC-RETINOPATHYLEADING TO VITRECTOMY

Purpose We report an epidemiologic study about prophylactic photocoagu lation of ischaemic diabetic retinopathy in order to avoid proliferati ve stage and severe vitreous haemorraghe. Methods We studied retrospec tively 42 eyes of 32 diabetic patients who underwent a vitrectomy in 1 993. For each patient several items were analyzed: nationality, sex, a ge, type, duration and clinical course of diabetes, and other risk fac tors. Slit lamp and ocular fundus examination were noted; in particula r lens, iris and vitreoretinal framework. Results Almost all patients had an inadequate laser photocoagulation: in 26 eyes (62%) it was insu fficient or non-existent, uncomplete in 12 eyes (29%), and non conflue nt for 18 eyes (43%). Only four eyes have had complete and confluent p anphotocoagulation. Conclusion Photocoagulation appears to the priorit y therapy to avoid most severe complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Laser photocoagulation must be started from preprolifera tive retinopathy, confluent on the useless ischaemic retinal areas, an d dense elsewhere.