IRIDOPATHY IN EYES WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY - DETECTION OF EARLY-STAGE OF RUBEOSIS IRIDIS

Forty-two eyes of 31 proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients with laser flare intensity greater than or equal to 20 photon counts/ms und erwent fluorescein iris angiography to evaluate any changes in the blo od-iris barrier and iris biomicroscopy to detect rubeosis iridis. Fluo rescein iris angiography revealed abnormal dye leakage in all eyes. La ser flare intensity significantly correlated with the degree of dye le akage. Eyes with dye leakage from only the pupillary border]lad no rub eosis. In 11 out of 18 (61%,) eyes with moderate dye leakage, prolifer ative diabetic iridopathy with early rubeosis was present in 8 and adv anced iridopathy in 3 eyes. In all eyes with excessive leakage, rubeos is iridis was detected under slitlamp examination, High laser flare in tensity has a close relationship with advanced blood-ocular barrier di sruption, High flare intensity may be a helpful indicator in detecting incipient rubeosis or advanced diabetic iridopathy.