Florid diabetic retinopathy (FDR) is a bilateral form of very severe ischemic retinopathy of younger-onset insulin-dependent diabetics (IDDM) characterized by rapid progression, high risk of vitreous hemorrhage and blindness. Functional prognosis of FDR depends on 1. early determination of diagnosis according to biomicroscopical and fluoroangiographical examinations, 2. immediate extensi- ve panretinal photocoagulation (PRF), 3. early pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for vitreous hemorrhage or active fibrovascular proliferations, 4. satisfactory com- pensation of IDDM and education of patients. In the study we observed general risk factors of FDR and retrospectivally evaluated anatomic and functional outcomes of FDR treatment of 9 patients (18 eyes, 6 males and 3 females) with an age from 17 to 39 year (range 26.3 year) in the period of determination of diagnosis of FDR, treated in the period January 1992 - February 1999 by extensive PRF (16 eyes) and PPV (11 eyes). This paper suggests that despite the severity of FDR, extensive PRF and PPV can essentially slow the progression toward blindness.

        Key words: florid diabetic retinopathy, panretinal photocoagulation, vitrectomy