[Evaluation of Diabetic Retinopathy with Ultra-wide Field Fluorescein Angiography].

PURPOSE: The ultra-wide field scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Optos 200Tx, Optos, Scotland, UK) provides retinal images of 200 degrees in a single capture which covers more than 80% of the retina. Fluorescein angiography with Optos 200Tx is useful to visualize the microcirculations of peripheral retina. It allows to evaluate peripheral pathology more precisely than conventional fundus photography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fluorescein angiography findings of eyes in diabetic retinopathy patients by using ultra-wide field fluoresrein angiography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ultra-wide field fluoresrein angiography was performed on 154 eyes of 77 patients with diabetic retinopathy. We divided the fundus into three zones, the posterior pole, the mid-periphery and the far-periphery. Capillary non-perfusion areas and retinal neovascularization in each zone were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred thirty eyes (84%) exhibited capillary non-perfusion areas. Ten eyes (7.7%) were found to have a capillary non-perfusion area only in the far-periphery. Seventy two eyes (47%) exhibited retinal neovascularization. Retinal neovascularization was observed most in the mid-periphery (58 eyes; 81%); 8 eyes (11%) were found to have retinal neovascularization in the far-periphery. CONCLUSION: Ultra-wide field fluorescein angiography revealed the microcirculatory disturbance in the peripheral retina of diabetic patients not evident by conventional fundus photography and it was useful for evaluating the status of the diabetic retinopathy.