Purpose. To compare laser flare intensity in patients wilh diabetes mellitu
s (DM) type I and type II to different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR)
and controls.
Methods. This study comprised 88 consecutive patients with DM type I and 40
controls in the same age range, divided into two age groups: 20-34 years a
nd 35-50 years; 108 consecutive patients with DM type II and 32 controls we
re also divided into two age groups: 45-59 years and 60-75 years. Patients
with glaucoma, exfoliation syndrome, media opacities, uveitis, within 96 ho
urs after laser photocoagulation, treatment with topical and systemic drugs
which can affect aqueous protein concentration, were excluded. One eye was
randomly selected from each diabetic patient and control. Flare intensity
was measured with a laser flare meter without mydriatic drops, and was then
correlated with the stages of DR within each age group.
Results. Eyes with advanced DR, such as moderate-severe, severe non-prolife
rative DR and proliferative DR (PDR), had significantly higher flare intens
ity than controls and eyes without retinopathy in all age groups (p<0.05).
Flare intensify values were similar for controls and eyes with mild-moderat
e DR in all age groups except the older patients with DM type II, particula
rly those with clinically significant macular edema (CSME) (p<0.05). Eyes w
ith regressed proliferative DR and no indication for laser photocoagulation
had significantly lower flare values than eyes with an indication for ther
apy (p<0.05). Eyes with iris rubeosis (IR) had significantly higher flare t
han those without IR (p<0.05). Flare values were significantly correlated w
ith the duration of diabetes in DM types I and II (p<0.05).
Conclusions. Flare intensity was increased in eyes with mild-moderate DR wi
th CSME, and in eyes with advanced and severe stages of DR. Aqueous flare w
as related to the duration of diabetes.