Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the effect of argon laser panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) on choroidal blood flow (CBF) in the foveal region and worsening macular edema as a complication of PRP in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Methods: :
Forty–six eyes of 30 patients with PDR who had undergone PRP were included. CBF in the foveal region was recorded using laser Doppler flowmeter (Oculix 4000) before and 1 month after the last photocoagulation. The foveal thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT3000) before and 1 month after treatment. We investigated if there were changes in CBF after PRP and exacerbation of macular edema.
Results: :
No macular edema developed 1 month after PRP in 25 of the 46 eyes. The mean CBF in these eyes was 7.8±3.0 arbitrary units before and 11.0±5.4 after PRP (mean±SD), a difference that reached statistical significance (p<0.05). In contrast, PRP did not significantly change the mean CBF in 21 eyes and macular edema developed 1 month after treatment.
Conclusions: :
PRP probably increases CBF in the foveal region in eyes with PDR, but the mean CBF in eyes that developed macular edema did not change after PRP. Our results indicated that a choroidal circulatory disturbance in the foveal region may be associated with the development of macular edema after PRP. CR:None
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • choroid • retina