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.