Effect of Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy on the Optic Disc Topography

Effect of Panretinal Photocoagulation on Confocal Laser Scanning Ophthalmoscopy and Stereo Photographic Parameters of the Optic Disc Topography in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

This study analyzed diabetic patients without evidence of glaucoma who underwent panretinal photocoagulation to determine the effect on optic disc topographic parameters in non-glaucomatous patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Glaucoma and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) are two very prevalent diseases that often coexist. Previous literature suggest that panretinal photocoagulation may somehow lead to optic disk cupping. Therefore, evaluation of the optic disc cupping and of possible glaucomatous damage in patients with diabetic retinopathy can be difficult, especially after PRP treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term effect of PRP on optic disc topographic parameters in non-glaucomatous patients with PDR using Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT) parameters and stereo photography. The Investigators found that PRP does not cause morphological optic disk changes in diabetic PDR patients after one year of follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of PDR (due to type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus)
• intraocular pressure < 18 mmHg
• nonglaucomatous optic disc characteristics at fundus examination
• vertical cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio <0.7
• absence of media opacities

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous diagnosis of glaucoma
• family history of glaucoma
• neuroophthalmic disease
• uveitis
• retinal artery or vein occlusion
• optic disc neovascularization
• diabetic macular edema (DME)
• corneal opacity
• previous laser photocoagulation treatment