Effects of haemodialysis on diabetic macular leakage

AIM: To evaluate the effects of haemodialysis on macular oedema by fluorescein angiography in patients with diabetic retinopathy and end stage renal disease. METHODS: In this prospective study, fluorescein angiography was performed on 40 eyes of 22 non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with end stage renal disease just before (baseline) and 4 weeks after the beginning of haemodialysis. The change of macular leakage was determined by evaluating the same phase of the angiograms. RESULTS: Fluorescein angiograms obtained at 4 weeks showed that macular leakage was unchanged in 28/40 eyes (70%), decreased in 4/40 eyes (10%), and increased in 8/40 eyes (20%) when compared with the baseline appearance. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that haemodialysis does not benefit macular leakage in diabetic patients receiving haemodialysis for end stage renal disease.