Subthreshold micropulse diode laser treatment in diabetic macular oedema.

Background/aim: Enlargement of laser scars after retinal argon laser photocoagulation can give rise to deterioration in visual acuity. Subthreshold micropulse diode laser may decrease this risk. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of subthreshold micropulse diode laser (810 nm) and conventional argon laser (514 nm) photocoagulation for the treatment of clinically significant macular oedema in diabetic patients.

The DIabetic Retinopathy Candesartan Trials (DIRECT) Programme, rationale and study design.

The DIabetic Retinopathy Candesartan Trials (DIRECT) Programme consists of three randomised, double-masked, parallel, placebo-controlled studies to determine the impact of treatment with candesartan on diabetic retinopathy. In Type 1 diabetes, 1,700 patients without retinopathy will be randomised into a primary prevention study, and 1,200 with non-proliferative retinopathy into a secondary prevention study. In Type 2 diabetes, 1,600 patients with non-proliferative retinopathy will be randomised.

Risk factors for progression to proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study.

Aims/hypothesis: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a leading cause of blindness, cannot be totally prevented by optimizing metabolic and blood pressure control and responds to no specific treatment other than partially destructive retinal photocoagulation. Recognizing risk factors using large-scale epidemiological studies could help identify targets for treatment. The EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study (PCS) includes the largest cohort so far of patients with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Markers of insulin resistance are strong risk factors for retinopathy incidence in type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To determine the incidence of retinopathy and the relative importance of its risk factors in type 1 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This is a 7.3-year follow-up of 764 of 1,215 (63%) people with type 1 diabetes across Europe, aged 15-60 years at baseline with no retinopathy (the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study).