Exudative age-related macular degeneration in patients with diabetic retinopathy and its relation to retinal laser photocoagulation

Abstract

Purpose: 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. Conclusion: Patients treated by laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy are less prone to develop the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration.