Distribution of capillary nonperfusion in early-stage diabetic retinopathy

Using composite super-wide fluorescein angiography, 152 eyes with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy were evaluated for capillary nonperfusion. Four basic types of eyes were distinguished according to the location of capillary nonperfusion: peripheral type 4 eyes, midperipheral type 93 eyes, central type 40 eyes and generalized type 15 eyes. The rate of enlargement of nonperfused area was more rapid in peripheral type, midperipheral type, central type and the generalized type in the ascending order. Eyes belonging to midperipheral and central types evolved into other, usually generalized type during the course of observation. There is a positive correlation between the initial site of occurrence of capillary nonperfusion and its progression in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. A proper recognition of the typing is claimed to be of prognostic value.