[Proliferative retinopathies in diabetes mellitus--cross sectional study in the Erfurd city and rural district]

Among the 9,173 diabetics of the city and the district of Erfurt (4.3% of the population) 37 patients with a proliferative retinopathy (0.4% of all diabetics) were found. The impairment of vision was very different: 9 patients had still a full vision, 7 patients were completely blind and only able for light perception, respectively. On the group average the 3rd degree retinopathy developed after 19 years of diabetes. In comparison to the type 1 diabetics (n = 17) the type 2 diabetics (n = 15) showed the more progressing courses. The period from the appearance of the first ophthalmologically provable retinal changes (R I) up to R III was in these cases about 5 years shorter than in the type 1 diabetics. The cause for the proliferative retinopathy is multifactorial. Our results plead for the fact that among the risk factors for the retinal microangiopathy apart from the duration of the disease the quality of metabolism and the arterial hypertension are decisive determinants both in type 1 and in type 2 diabetics. In order to avoid and to delay, respectively, severe impairments of vision, from the beginning of diabetes metabolism and blood pressure should be stabilized as well as possible and by means of regular short-term ophthalmoscopic controls well-timed light and laser coagulations should be striven for.