An analysis by fluorescein angiography of the first signs of retinopathy in 161 diabetic children showed that microaneurysm-like spot dilatations, microaneurysms, focal capillary dilatations, leakage, generalized capillary dilatations, retinal hemorrhages, areas of capillary non-perfusion and capillary remodelling, in decreasing order of frequency, were features of the onset of retinopathy. However, microaneurysm-like spot dilatations and both focal and generalized capillary dilatations were considered to be too subjective for use in further quantitative analysis. Retinopathy was not found in children < 12="" years="" of="" age="" and="" was="" detected="" only="" after="" at="" least="" 3="" years="" of="" diabetes.="" the="" mean="" duration="" of="" diabetes="" before="" the="" occurrence="" of="" the="" first="" lesions="" in="" 118="" affected="" eyes="" was="" 8.2="" years.="" the="" mean="" age="" at="" which="" lesions="" occurred="" was="" 16.4="" years.="" although="" capillary="" non-perfusion="" was="" rarely="" an="" initial="" lesion,="" occurring="" after="" a="" longer="" duration="" of="" diabetes="" and="" at="" a="" later="" age="" than="" the="" other="" lesions,="" no="" significant="" difference="" could="" be="" found="" between="" the="" various="" types="" of="" lesions="" for="" either="" the="" patient's="" age="" at="" their="" onset="" or="" the="" duration="" of="" diabetes.="" the="" type="" of="" initial="" lesion="" was="" also="" unrelated="" to="" sex,="" age="" at="" the="" onset="" of="" diabetes,="" or="" metabolic="">