RELATION BETWEEN IRIDOPATHY AND RETINOPATHY IN DIABETES

In order to assess the relation between diabetic iridopathy (DI) and r etinopathy (DR), 225 eyes of 117 diabetics with clear media were evalu ated. Each patient underwent iris and retinal fluorescein angiography, which was used to classify DI and DR. DI was classified as: absence o f DI; non-proliferative DI; proliferative DI; neovascular glaucoma. DR was classified as: absence of DR; background DR; pre-proliferative DR ; proliferative DR, The sensitivity of iris fluorescein angiography in assessing DR was 44.5%, the specificity 88%, the positive predictive value 92.8%, and the negative value 31.2%. In pre-proliferative and pr oliferative DR, fluoroiridographic detection of iris neovessels gave a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 100%. The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative value 65%. In conclusion, iris fluore scein angiography yields valuable information on DR and is a helpful b asis for avoiding complications when scheduling eyes with dioptric med ia opacities for surgery.