Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (Dm) is a major cause of visual loss⁵ which may be prevented by good blood sugar control as well as timely retinal laser-photocoagulation. The mechanism of action of photocoagulation is not entirely clear yet. However destroying ischemic retinal areas is thought to reduce the production of angiogenic factors and thereby reduce neovascularizations and their complications. One problem is that the optimal time to induce laser treatment is often well before the diabetic patient is symptomatically affected. Even slitlamp examination does not always show signs of early retinopathy. Avascular retinal areas that may only be seen in fluorescein-angiography signify a 'point of no return' in the course of diabetic retinopathy⁶.

© 1996 Optical Society of America