Purpose

To present the course and progression of very severe proliferative retinopathy in young women with long lasting diabetes mellitus and symptoms of anorexia nervosa.

Material and methods

The data of 5 young women, in age 25-32 years, suffering from diabetes mellitus 15 to 29 years with intended weight lose. The progression of ophthalmological changes was observed, followed by considerable fluctuations of glucose blood.

Results

In the time of weight lose in all patients, the worsening of the visual acuity was observed and it was the first reason for ophthalmological check-up. The initial best corrected visual acuity was 0.1-0.9. The rubeosis of the iris, cataracts and proliferative retinopathy with intravitreal hemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment were observed. Despite the immediate ophthalmological treatment ( lasertherapy, pars plana vitrectomy, criopexy and retinopexy) the useful visual acuity (>0.1) was maintained only in one eye.

Conclusions

1. In case of significant exacerbation of progression of ophthalmological changes in patients with long lasting diabetes mellitus and anorexia nervosa the monitoring of their psychological and physical conditions is essential. 2. In the case of weight lose in patients with long lasting diabetes mellitus the rigorous ophtalmological monthly consultations are obligate.