PURPOSE: To define the effect of scatter laser photocoagulation on foveal retinal thickness. METHODS: A commercial scanning retinal thickness analyzer was used to measure retinal thickness. The foveal retinal thickness was measured at the central area of the fundus (0.4 x 0.4 mm). The method was applied to 20 consecutive patients (mean age, 52.4 +/-16.9 years) with diabetic retinopathy. Measurements were performed before and 6 weeks after scatter photocoagulation. Patients were examined by fluorescein angiography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy to detect macular edema. RESULTS: Mean foveal thickness before scatter photocoagulation was 187+/-45 microm, increasing to 221+/-46 microm after the treatment (P = 0.0001). The foveal thickness increased in 12 eyes (60%). Laser treatment increased macular permeability in two eyes (10%). Biomicroscopic examination revealed central macular thickening in one eye (5%). Visual acuity was reduced in four eyes (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that subclinical macular edema occurs after scatter laser photocoagulation. The retinal thickness analyzer is a sensitive tool for early detection of macular edema after laser treatment, because increases in retinal thickness as small as 34 microm cannot be assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
PURPOSE: To define the effect of scatter laser photocoagulation on foveal retinal thickness. METHODS: A commercial scanning retinal thickness analyzer was used to measure retinal thickness. The foveal retinal thickness was measured at the central area of the fundus (0.4 x 0.4 mm). The method was applied to 20 consecutive patients (mean age, 52.4 +/-16.9 years) with diabetic retinopathy. Measurements were performed before and 6 weeks after scatter photocoagulation. Patients were examined by fluorescein angiography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy to detect macular edema. RESULTS: Mean foveal thickness before scatter photocoagulation was 187+/-45 microm, increasing to 221+/-46 microm after the treatment (P = 0.0001). The foveal thickness increased in 12 eyes (60%). Laser treatment increased macular permeability in two eyes (10%). Biomicroscopic examination revealed central macular thickening in one eye (5%). Visual acuity was reduced in four eyes (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that subclinical macular edema occurs after scatter laser photocoagulation. The retinal thickness analyzer is a sensitive tool for early detection of macular edema after laser treatment, because increases in retinal thickness as small as 34 microm cannot be assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
Authors: Irina G Obrosova; Yury Maksimchyk; Pal Pacher; Elisabet Agardh; Maj-Lis Smith; Azza B El-Remessy; Carl-David Agardh Journal: Int J Mol Med Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 4.101
Authors: R Filek; P Hooper; T Sheidow; J Gonder; D K Varma; L Heckler; W Hodge; S Chakrabarti; C M L Hutnik Journal: Eye (Lond) Date: 2017-04-28 Impact factor: 3.775
Authors: J Fernando Arevalo; Juan G Sanchez; Andres F Lasave; Lihteh Wu; Mauricio Maia; Sergio Bonafonte; Miguel Brito; Arturo A Alezzandrini; Natalia Restrepo; Maria H Berrocal; Mario Saravia; Michel Eid Farah; Jans Fromow-Guerra; Virgilio Morales-Canton Journal: J Ophthalmol Date: 2011-03-30 Impact factor: 1.909