Purpose: To determine if diabetic papillopathy may be associated with optic disk neovascularization and visual loss.
Methods: We examined two young adults with bilateral diabetic papillopathy who had permanent loss of vision associated with rapidly progressive posterior segment neovascularization.
Results: Within three months both patients developed florid optic disk neovascularization. This neovascularization was slow to regress despite full panretinal photocoagulation. One patient developed a macular tractional retinal detachment.
Conclusions: Diabetic papillopathy may be associated with rapid progression of diabetic retinopathy and, in particular, optic disk neovascularization. Patients should be monitored for this possibility.