Exudative age-related macular degeneration in patients with diabetic retinopathy and its relation to retinal laser photocoagulation.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between exudative age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy and assess the influence of retinal laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy on the occurrence of exudative age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
Two groups, one of diabetic retinopathy patients treated with laser and the other of non-laser-treated diabetic retinopathy patients, were studied by means of fundoscopy and fluorescein angiography for the presence of exudative age-related macular degeneration.


RESULTS
Exudative age-related macular degeneration was not observed in 431 patients treated with laser photocoagulation, and was diagnosed in 3.3% of 151 non-laser-treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients treated by laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy are less prone to develop the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration.
Zylbermann
R
R
Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Landau
D
D
Rozenman
Y
Y
Abrahami
S
S
Pollack
A
A
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged