Alterations in choroidal vascular parameters following pan-retinal photocoagulation using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography

Author: Hamid Riazi (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

Co-authors: Ahmad Mirsahi, Elias Khalili Pour, Reza Mirshahi, Nazanin Ebrahimiadib, Fatemeh Bazvand, Kaveh Fadakar

Purpose

To investigate the alteration of choroid in patients with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP).

Setting/Venue

Patients with very severe NPDR and early PDR without center-involved macular edema referred to the retina clinic of Farabi eye hospital, Tehran university of medical sciences, were recruited in this study from February 2019 to November 2020.

Methods

Thirty-nine eyes of 21 patients with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (19 eyes) and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (20 eyes) were recruited. Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography at baseline, 1, and 6 months after PRP was employed to measure choroidal parameters including total choroidal area (TCA) and choroidal vascular index (CVI).

Results

In eyes with very severe NPDR, TCA decreased non-significantly at month 1, which increased significantly at month 6 (539±131µm2, 502±134µm2, 598±168µm2 at baseline and month 1 and 6, respectively; P=0.003). CVI increased at month 1, and then decreased at month 6 (68.25±3.05, 69.74±3.62, 67.84±1.77 at baseline, month 1 and 6, respectively; P<0.001). A reverse pattern occurred in eyes with early PDR; a non-significant increase in TCA at month 1 followed by a decrease at month 6 (497±95µm2, 514±133µm2, 425±95µm2 at baseline, month 1 and 6, respectively; P=0.011). CVI decreased at month 1 and remained relatively stable at month 6 (69.34±3.11, 68.33±3.41, 68.50±5.04 at baseline, month 1 and 6, respectively; P=0.023). Alteration of choroidal thickness was not statistically significant in both groups.

Conlusions

Eyes with very severe NPDR and early PDR exhibit a reverse pattern regarding choroidal indices after PRP.

Financial Disclosure

No any financial relations