Long‐term visual results after laser treatment of proliferative diabetes retinopathy in childhood onset diabetes

Abstract

Ninety-seven laser treated eyes from 55 highly selected childhood onset diabetics (diabetes before the age of 15, proliferative retinopathy before the age of 31, and a follow-up time of at least 5 years) were examined retrospectively. The eyes were divided into two groups, with or without high-risk characteristics according to DRS classification. They were all treated with a blue-green argon laser in the years 1974 to 1981. Of 34 eyes with high-risk characteristics, 12 935%) were blind (less than FC 1 M) after 5 years. Of 63 eyes without high-risk characteristics, 8 (13%) were blind after 5 years.