EVALUATION OF FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY

We evaluated fluorescein angiograms in 174 patients with noninsulin-de pendent diabetes mellitus. Only one had a skin eruption after ingestin g fluorescein orally. In 144 patients (83%), the ophthalmoscopic grade s of diabetic retinopathy were consistent with the fluorescein angiogr aphic evaluations. In the other 30 patients (17%), differences were no ted in grading between ophthalmoscopic and fluorescein angiographic fi ndings. Among the 30 patients, 13 were found by fluorescein angiograph y to have an area of capillary nonperfusion, which was treated with ph otocoagulation. According to the fluorescein angiographic findings, 36 patients were treated again with laser photocoagulation, and 44 patie nts were newly treated. We believe that fluorescein angiography may be somewhat useful in the management of patients with diabetic retinopat hy.