Although all ophthalmologists recognize the typical ophthalmoscopic appearance of diabetic retinopathy, first described by Jaeger1 in 1856, not all are convinced that the fundic picture is specific. There have been many papers in past years that supported each side of the question.2 Practically all discussions have been based on observations on patients. The facts that diabetic retinopathy is usually associated with retinal arteriosclerosis, hypertension and renal disease and that young persons with diabetes were formerly thought to be free of the retinopathy have led many observers to conclude that diabetic retinopathy is not specific.3 On the other hand, recent studies have shown that sclerosis of the retinal vessels is not more frequent in diabetic than in nondiabetic patients of a similar age group.4 Diabetic retinopathy does occur in young persons if observations are made over a sufficiently long time,5 and this fundic picture does occur