Diabetic retinopathy patients may be at increased risk for rapid progression of their problems and of poor visual outcome after endophthalmitis.

Wisconsin investigators retrospectively analyzed the records of 11 diabetic patients (12 eyes) with endophthalmitis. Of the six patients who showed no evidence of retinopathy before endophthalmitis, none went on to develop retinopathy later. Of the six patients with pre-existing retinopathy, however, four showed evidence of progression within 6 months of the inflammation. Three patients developed severe proliferative disease and macular edema; one patient developed severe nonproliferative disease. More patients without pre-existing retinopathy than patients with it achieved a final visual acuity of 20/40 or greater.