[Choroid fundus as protective factor in the development of diabetic retinopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether tessellated fundus unrelated to myopia modifies the rate of diabetic patients with retinopathy. METHOD: Diabetic patients evaluated ophthalmoscopically for the first time from September 1998 to December 1999 were retrospectively reviewed, and the presence of diabetic retinopathy was compared with those with tessellated fundus (group 1) and without (group 2). Duration of diabetes and presence of retinopathy were evaluated. Differences were analysed with x2. RESULTS: 621 patients were evaluated, 138 of whom (22%) had tessellated fundus. The rate of patients with diabetic retinopathy was statistically lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0.00); this difference was maintained after correction for cumulated diabetes duration. DISCUSSION: The presence of tessellated fundus was associated with a lower rate of patients with diabetic retinopathy and with delayed onset. Manifestations of diabetic retinopathy in patients with tessellated fundus might have a different expression, and this expression might not necessarily reflect the microvascular status of the patient.