The 5-year prognosis for vision in diabetes.

DIABETIC retinopathy is a common cause of blindness. The introduction of photocoagulation treatment has stimulated interest in this condition and several well designed and properly controlled studies have shown that either xenon arc or argon laser photocoagulation therapy can arrest or delay the progression of diabetic retinopathy.1-7 This treatment is now available at many centres in the UK, and the time has come to assess its impact on the overall expectation for vision in diabetics. This paper reports the natural history of visual acuity in a selected group of diabetic patients observed for at least five years. Photocoagulation therapy was performed when indicated, as were other specific ophthalmic procedures.