[Diabetic retinopathy, problems of documentation and evaluation (author's transl)]

Follow-up studies of diabetic retinopathy cause difficulties through the altering numbers and figures of the retinal changes. If the various pictures of retinopathy are changed furthermore by coagulation, we have to distinguish, between spontaneous improvements or deteriorations and changes which are due to therapy. Follow-up studies with various evaluation methods have shown that the chosen criteria do not lead to corresponding judgements. The visual acuity seems to be the only criteria with decisive and relatively objective statements.