Patients treated by laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy are less prone to develop the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration.

The course of diabetic retinopathy following extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation in eyes previously treated by laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy was retrospectively studied in 33 eyes (33 patients). In 20 eyes (61%) there was no change in the retinal status postoperatively. In 13 (39%) there was postoperative progression of diabetic retinopathy compared with the fellow non-operated eye, in which progression occurred in nine eyes (27%). The severity of the preoperative status affected the incidence of progression. Four eyes (12%) developed complications ofdiabetic retinopathy -that is, rubeosis iridis and vitreous haemorrhage -which regressed after lasering. Cystoid macular oedema developed in 13 eyes (39%) and its incidence varied according to the postoperative course of diabetic retinopathy. The majority of the eyes showed a postoperative improvement in vision.

Aims/background-Since wound healing processes are known to be more rapid in those who are young, it was decided to examine the eVect of patient age on refractive outcome of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Methods-The records of 599 eyes that had undergone PRK were studied retrospectively. The eyes were categorised by baseline myopia and patient age. Spherical equivalent and corneal haze were compared in the baseline refraction and age groups at 3, 6, and 12 months after PRK. Results-There were no diVerences in postoperative refraction and corneal haze in the diVerent age groups. Conclusion-Patient age had no statistically significant eVect on refraction and corneal haze 1 year after PRK. (Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:637-638)

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