title: Modifying factors related to asymmetric diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the modifying factors related to the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight eyes of 19 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with maintained asymmetric PDR were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients with ipsilateral carotid stenoses > or = 90% had PDR. Four patients with high myopia over 6 dioptres and 4 patients with optic atrophy and at least a quadrant defect in the visual field had non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Of 6 patients with unilateral asteroid hyalosis, 5 had no posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and PDR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two factors reached statistical significance as factors modifying PDR: carotid occlusive disease and PVD. Optic atrophy and high myopia showed trends of being a protective influence.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014794:Visual Fields; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000150:complications