[Long-term results of surgical hypophysectomy for diabetic retinopathy (author's transl)]

Between 1969 and 1974, ten insulin-dependent diabetic patients underwent surgical hypophysectomy for rapidly progressive proliferative retinopathy endangering sight. Six to 11 years later, the 7 patients who survived had useful visual acuity and were leading a normal life. The long-term results of hypophysectomy on the eye could be observed in this series of patients with exceptionally long follow up: oedema had subsided, haemorrhagic exsudates and newly formed retinal vessels had disappeared, and the retinal had become hypovascular. However, argon laser photocoagulation has now considerably reduced the indications of surgical hypophysectomy.