Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the change in pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) following laser therapy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and clinically significant macular edema (CSME). The relationship of ocular blood flow and diabetic retinopathy has been studied in the past. Geyer and colleagues suggested that the POBF is initially decreased with the onset of diabetes when there is no diabetic retinopathy. Subsequently, the POBF increases with the severity of retinopathy. Recently, Krepler and colleagues found a reduction in ocular blood flow following vitrectomy for diabetic complications. It was not certain whether laser therapy had any influence on POBF. Methods: Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and CSME receiving pan–retinal photocoagulation (PRP) and macular laser therapy respectively were included in the study. Pulsatile ocular blood flow was measured using Ocular Blood Flow device at baseline, one month and three months following the respective laser treatment. Statistical analysis was carried out by student T–test Results: The POBF was significantly reduced at one month (p=0.005) and three months (p=0.05) after PRP but there was no significant change after macular laser. Conclusions: The treatment benefit of PRP may be related to the reduction in ocular blood flow.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • laser