SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF BOTH PERIPAPILLARY AND SUBFOVEAL CHOROIDAL THICKNESS AFTER PANRETINAL PHOTOCOAGULATION IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES.

Abstract

To evaluate changes in peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for diabetic retinopathy. This retrospective interventional study included 59 treatment-naive eyes of 33 patients who underwent PRP and completed ≥12 months of follow-up. Peripapillary choroidal thickness and SFCT were measured at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-PRP. Differences between baseline and 12 months (ΔSFCT and ΔPCT) and percentage changes (ΔSFCT or ΔPCT/baseline × 100%) were determined. Mean SFCT was 287.7 ± 76.7 μm (139.0-469.0 μm) at baseline and 225.8 ± 62.0 μm (102.5-379.5 μm) 12 months post-PRP (P < 0.001). Mean PCT was 161.2 ± 16.5 μm (75.3-308.1 μm) at baseline and 128.4 ± 41.8 μm (73.0-212.9 μm) 12 months post-PRP (P < 0.001). ΔSFCT was -61.3 ± 28.7 μm (-139.5 to -17.0 μm), and %SFCT was 21.2 ± 7.2% (6.8% to 36.1%). ΔPCT was -36.4 ± 23.2 μm (-149.1 to 5.4 μm), and %PCT was 22.4 ± 12.0% (2.5% to 62.6%). Diabetic retinopathy severity was the only factor significantly correlated with %SFCT (β = 0.500, P = 0.004) and %PCT (β = 0.152, P = 0.024). Both PCT and SFCT reduced significantly after PRP. Diabetic retinopathy severity was significantly correlated with post-PRP changes of peripapillary and SFCT.