The Effects of Pa n retinal Photocoagulation on Macular Microcirculation in Diabetic Retinopathy(Short term follow up)

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP)on macular microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy. PRP using argon blue green laser was performed in 23 eyes of 15 patients with early proliferative diabetic etinopathy and very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without significant macular edema. The changes in volume, flow, velocity of macular microcirculation were measured before PRP, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month following PRP, using Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter(HRF). Mean volume, flow, velocity of macular microcirculation decreased to a maximal degree 1 hour following PRP, from 14.87+/-0.40, 387.45 +/-101.40, 1.40+/-0.28(before PRP)to 12.44+/-1.39, 347. 33+/-100.39, 1.27+/-0.34(p<0.05). From 1hour to 1 month after PRP, macular microcirculation gradually increased. However, throughout this period, all parameters of macular microcirculation remained lower than pre-PRP level(p<0.05). Our study suggests that panretinal photocoagulation reduces the macular microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy.