Long term effect of panretinal photocoagulation on retinal nerve fiber layer parameters in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

• Published in: Oman journal of ophthalmology Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 181 - 185
• Main Authors: Wadhwani, Meenakshi, Bali, Shweta, Bhartiya, Shibhal, Mahabir, Manish, Upadhaya, Ashish, Dada, Tanuj, Sharma, Anu, Mishra, Sanjay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.09.2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Dadaism; Diabetes; Diabetic retinopathy; Edema; Glaucoma; Hemorrhage; Lasers; Medical research; Optical coherence tomogram; Original; panretinal photocoagulation; proliferative diabetic retinopathy; Studies; Tomography; Type 2 diabetes; United States > US; panretinal photocoagulation; proliferative diabetic retinopathy; Optical coherence tomogram
• ISSN: 0974-620X; 0974-7842
• DOI: 10.4103/ojo.OJO_39_2018

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effect of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study examining 42 eyes of 42 patients with PDR undergoing PRP. Peripapillary RNFL thickness (RNFLT) was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at baseline, 1 year, and 3 years following PRP. RESULTS: The mean "average RNFLT" was 89.88 ± 14.26 μm at baseline, 85.75 ± 11.36 μm at 1-year follow-up, and 83.33 ± 11.96 μm at 3-year follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference in the average RNFL thickness at baseline and 1 year and 3 years after PRP. At 1-year follow-up, superior, inferior, and nasal RNFL measurements reduced significantly from baseline (P < 0.01). The reduction in RNFL remained statistically significant for superior and inferior quadrants 3 years after PRP. CONCLUSION: PRP causes a reduction in RNFL thickness until 3 years after the procedure. Caution should be exercised while interpreting peripapillary RNFL thickness scans in patients who have undergone PRP for diabetic retinopathy.