[Classification of diabetic retinopathy and application standard of photocoagulation]

It has been confirmed in some prefectures in Japan that severe diabetic retinopathy became the leading cause of blindness. The authors described classification of diabetic retinopathy and discussed that in order to prevent blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, it was absolutely necessary to place fundus examination in the management system of diabetes and also to include photocoagulation therapy in the management system of diabetic retinopathy. Application of fundus examination in the management system of diabetes was described correspondingly in cases with or without retinopathy and in cases of each type of diabetic retinopathy. Indication of photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy was discussed, according to types of the retinopathy, such as maculopathy, preproliferative retinopathy or early stage of proliferative retinopathy. Standard technique of photocoagulation in each type of the retinopathy was discussed. Particularly it was stressed that the panretinal photocoagulation should not be performed in a single session, but should be performed separately in four or five sessions at one week interval.