Abstract
Purpose: :
To analyze the morphology of microaneurysms before and after direct photocoagulation in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
Methods: :
This retrospective study was conducted on 18 eyes of 18 diabetic patients who underwent focal photocoagulation for clinically significant macular edema from June 2009 to October 2009. We evaluated the microaneurysms before, immediately, one month and two months after photocoagulation in SD-OCT (Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). The microaneurysms were also evaluated by fluorescein angiography and color fundus photography. The patients underwent focal photocoagulation for microaneurysm as described by "Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 1985, 103: 1796-1806".
Results: :
The microaneurysms before photocoagulation in SD-OCT were observed as hyperreflective deposits within the vessel wall. Immediately after photocoagulation, the microaneurysms were changed to unclear lesions and hyperreflective around the microaneurysms, and acoustic shadow was developed at the choroidal side of the microaneurysms. If photocoagulation for microaneurysms is appropriately done, retinal changes were limited within inner-retina around the microaneurysms and no chagenes were observed in retinal pigment epithelium. One to two month after photocoagulation, the microaneurysms were unclear and changed into fine scar, and retinal structure was improved. Foveal average retinal thickness was 408±81µm before operation, but was improved to 347±87µm at 2 months.
Conclusions: :
The microaneurysms before and after photocoagulation were observed in SD-OCT. Our results suggest that photocoagulation for only microaneurysm may be lower invasive method and SD-OCT is useful for effectiveness in photocoagulation of the microaneurysms.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • laser • imaging/image analysis: clinical