Assessment of Changes in Visual Field after Panretinal Photocoagulation Treatment in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Background:After the Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Study (DRS) and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study, laser photocoagulation has been the cornerstone of treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy for the past three decades (ETDRS). Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of conventional PRP on fundus status visual acuity and BCVA in patients with PDR. Patients and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out in Ophthalmology Department, Suez Canal University Hospitals. It included 23 eyes of randomly selected 18 diabetic patients with signs of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, with visual acuity not less than 2/60. Results: Ten patients (43.5%) were females and thirteen (56.5%) were males with a mean age of 52.65 ± 8.17 years (range, 29-63 years). 78.3% of patients had type II DM and 21.7% had type I with a mean duration of DM of 20.04 ± 7.53 years. 60.9% of patients were uncontrolled diabetics and 39.1% were controlled. there was a statistically significant difference before PRP, after one month, and after three months (p < 0.001) in PSD. Patients had a significant increase in mean PSD before PRP (4.04 ± 3.57) to (5.62 ± 4.10) after one month. Also, mean PSD showed a significant increase from before PRP (4.04 ± 3.57) to (4.30 ± 2.03) after three months. Conclusion: PRP is safe and successful for treating PDR and maintaining eyesight, despite temporarily impairing vision and altering the macular shape and thickness. By three months, this visual loss can return to normal. The most frequent cause of this loss of vision is macular edema.