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Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Göz Hastalıkları A.D. Purpose: To demonstrate the possible effect of pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) to the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Methods: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements were performed in patients with PDR who were candidates for PRP before and after laser application by using a scanning laser polarimeter (NFA-GDx). Patients with glaucoma, other retinal diseases and with visual acuity less than 20/40 were excluded from the study. Thirteen GDx variables were used for the assessment and Wilcoxon test was used for the statistical analysis of results.
Results: Twenty eyes of 11 patients were included in the study. A repeat NFL assessment was performed in all patients 2-12 months after completion of PRP. Although all of the values were decreased after the laser applications, only 5 of them (the superior average, superior integral, average thickness, ellipse average and maximum modulation were statistically significantly less than the pre-laser values (p<0.05, Wilcoxon test).
Conclusions: RNFL seems to become thinner after PRP; however, scars resulting from laser treatment may effect the measurements, resulting in an apparent loss of nerve fiber tissue measured with NFA-GDx. This issue should be kept in mind in diabetic glaucoma cases; however, it needs verification with histological studies. Keywords : Panretinal photocoagulation, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness