Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of focal laser photocoagulation on retinal blood flow in eyes with CSME through the Retinal Functional Imager (RFI).
Methods:
A retrospective review was performed on 5 patients who had undergone retinal functional imaging before and after receiving focal laser photocoagulation for CSME. None of the patients had prior laser treatment. RFI analysis was conducted within 1 hour before and after laser treatment. The main outcome measures were arterial and venous velocities within the macula.
Results:
Mean age was 62 ± 2.3 years. There were 3 males and 2 females. Four of the 5 patients (80%) demonstrated a decrease in arterial velocity post focal laser treatment (Table 1). The arterial velocity decreased by at least 30% in these patients. Venous velocity post focal laser treatment increased in 60% of patients. There was no correlation between total energy applied (mean: 4240 ± 3341 mV) and change in velocity.
Conclusions:
The RFI is a novel non-invasive imaging system which allows for quantitative analysis of retinal blood flow. The results of this study suggest that arterial velocity decreases in response to focal laser photocoagulation. Further RFI analysis is necessary to assess the effect of laser treatment on retinal blood flow.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • retina • diabetic retinopathy