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Article Type

Article

Subject Area

Ophthalmology

Abstract

Introduction Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the primary retinal vascular complication of diabetes mellitus and is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Argon laser is a common laser that is used for DR treatment. This study was carried out aiming to assess the effect of DR on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness prepan and postpan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Patients and methods This study was carried out on 100 eligible eyes in 62 consecutive patients. The authors performed a complete ophthalmologic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity using the early treatment diabetes retinopathy analysis charts, intraocular pressure measurement, slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination, fundus examination, and fluorescein angiography. The RNFL (inferior and total) thickness at every follow-up visit was increased significantly from baseline to 1 month, and 6 months post-PRP and then decreased significantly at follow-up from 1 month to 6 months (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in superior RNFL from baseline to 1-month post-PRP and then decreased at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). In contrast, there was no significant change from the 1-month to the 6-month follow-up (P > 0.05). In conclusion, an increase in the macular ganglion cell thickness and RNFL at follow-up after 1 month may be correlated to laser-induced intraretinal inflammation, resulting in increased capillary permeability and axonal edema due to cytokine release. Conclusion In conclusion, an improvement in macular ganglion cell thickness and RNFL at 1 month of follow-up can be associated with laser-induced intraretinal inflammation, resulting in increased capillary permeability and axonal edema due to the release of cytokine.

Keywords

Diabetic retinopathy, ganglion cell complex, panretinal photocoagulation, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness

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