眼科受診の遅れる糖尿病網膜症患者（第2報）

The delay of ophthalmological examination for diabetic patients. Report 2

　緒言　糖尿病網膜症の管理に眼科医，内科医の相互協力が必要なことはいうまでもないが^1），現実には，糖尿病治療の開始後長期間たってから，はじめて眼科を受診する例が少なくない^2）。そこで，眼科受診が遅れる背景，主訴などについて調査した。

We reviewed the background of 396 diabetic patients with retinopathy seen by us during 38 months through early 1993. Many patients present-ing with proliferative retinopathy at the first visit came to us more than 10 years after start of sys-temic therapy for diabetes mellitus. This findingsshow that many physicians have insufficient under-standing of diabetic ocular complications. There is a keen need to advise physicians and general public to consult ophthalmologists during the early stages of diabetes to prevent visual loss including blind-ness.