Diabetic retinopathy: II. Assessment of severity and progression from fluorescein angiograms.

A quantitative method for assessing the severity of retinopathy from fluorescein angiograms was applied to a group of patients starting continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. There was a highly significant correlation between the area of nonperfusion as measured in the 20 degrees field centered on the right macula, and the mean retinopathy score derived by a standard method from a color retinal photographic survey. In those subjects who deteriorated more, there was an increase in the nonperfused areas, whereas the foveal avascular zone remained unchanged.