Abstract
Panretinal photocoagulation has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on the natural history of diabetic retinopathy. However, it is associated with detectable loss of retinal function. To determine the best coagulation technique we conducted a prospective study in 32 eyes of 16 patients. We investigated retinal function in relation to spot size and scatter density after panretinal laser coagulation. One eye was treated with approximately 400 comparatively large laser spots (0.6–0.8 mm diameter), whereas the fellow eye was coagulated with approximately 1500 small spots (0.2–0.4 mm diameter), so that the total coagulated area was almost the same in both eyes. Subjective parameters (visual acuity, perimetry, dark adaptation, photostress), as well as objective functions (electroretinogram, ERG; electro-oculogram, EOG), were studied preoperatively and then postoperatively over a time span of 6 months. Pronounced impairment of retinal function was detected, which recovered after 3 months on the average. When the pairs of eyes were compared, persistent visual field scotomas as detected by computerized static perimetry, occurred less frequently in eyes subjected to small coagulation spots, although this tendency was not statistically significant.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amemiya T (1977) Dark adaptation in diabetics. Ophthalmologica 174:322–326
Cambie E (1983) Functional results following argon laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy. In: Little HL, Jack RL, Patz A, Forsham PH (eds) Diabetic retinopathy. Thieme and Stratton, New York, pp 274–284
Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group (1976) Preliminary report on effects of photocoagulation therapy. Am J Ophthalmol 81:383–396
Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group (1978) Photocoagulation treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy: the second report of diabetic retinopathy study findings. Ophthalmology 85:82–106
Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group (1981) Photocoagulation treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Ophthalmology 88:583–600
Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group (1985) Photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema. Arch Ophthalmol 103:1796–1806
François J, De Rouck A, Cambie E, Castanheira-Dinis A (1978) Electrophysiological studies before and after argon laser photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy. Ophthalmologica 176:133–144
Frank RN (1975) Visual fields and electroretinography following extensive photocoagulation. Arch Ophthalmol 93:591–598
Glaser JS, Savino PJ, Sumers KD, McDonald SA, Knighton RW (1977) The photostress recovery test in the clinical assessment of visual function. Am J Ophthalmol 83: 255–260
McDonald HR, Schatz H (1985) Visual loss following panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Ophthalmology 92:388–393
Meyers SM (1980) Macular edema after scatter laser photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 90:210–216
Naumann GOH (1980) Pathologie des Auges. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, p 40
Okun E, Johnston GP, Boniuk I, Arribas NP, Escoffery RF, Grand G (1984) Xenon arc photocoagulation of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Ophthalmology 91:1458–1463
Perlman I, Gdal-On M, Miller B, Zonis S (1985) Retinal function of the diabetic retina after argon laser photocoagulation assessed electroretinographically, Br J Ophthalmol 69: 240–246
Scherfig E, Krogh E (1981) EOG changes in photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 59:917–920
Wehner F, Alexandridis E, Bettinger F (1970) Elektrookulografische Befunde bei Uveitis. Ber Dtsch Ophthalmol Ges [Suppl] 70:161–165
Wisznia KI, Liebermann TW, Leopold IH (1971) Visual fields in diabetic retinopathy. Br J Ophthalmol 55:183–188
Zetterström B, Gjötterberg M (1973) Photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy with special reference to its effect on dark adaptation. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 51:512–519
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seiberth, V., Alexandridis, E. & Feng, W. Function of the diabetic retina after panretinal argon laser coagulation. Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 225, 385–390 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334163
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334163