THE TOPOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE FIRST SITES OF DIABETIC RETINAL NEOVASCULARIZATION

PURPOSE: To examine the topographic distribution of the origin of diab etic retinal neovascularization. METHODS: The eyes of 3,121 patients w ith background diabetic retinopathy were investigated. These patients were volunteers in systemic medical, therapy experiments. Color stereo photographs were obtained annually. The first retinal neovascularizat ion sites were identified and the distances from the optic nerve measu red. RESULTS: In 1 year, neovascularization originated in 282 eyes. Th e supertemporal quadrant, at 6 mm from the optic disk, was the most fr equent initial site. CONCLUSIONS: The first retinal neovascularization sites cluster around specific anatomic foci. This information should influence retinopathy monitoring protocols. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Scien ce Inc. All rights reserved.