Alterations in choroidal vascular parameters following panretinal photocoagulation using enhanced‑depth imaging optical coherence tomography in diabetic retinopathy
Hamid Riazi Esfahani1 *, Ahmad Mirshahi2 , Kaveh Fadakar 2 , Nazanin Ebrahimiadib2 , Elias Khalili Pour2 , Fariba Ghassemi3 , Fatemeh bazvand3 , Hooshan Faghihi2 , Reza Mirshahi4 , Sepideh Ghods3
- Retina Service, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital,
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin square,
South Karegar Street, 1336616351 Tehran, Iran
- Retina Service, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin square, South Karegar Street, 1336616351 Tehran, Iran
- Retina Service, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: To investigate the alteration of choroid in patients with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)
or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP).
Methods: Thirty-nine eyes of 21 patients with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (19 eyes) and early
proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (20 eyes) were recruited. Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography
at baseline, 1, and 6 months after PRP was employed to measure choroidal parameters including total choroidal area (TCA)
and choroidal vascular index (CVI).
Results: In eyes with very severe NPDR, subfoveal TCA decreased non-significantly at month 1, which increased
significantly at month 6 (539 ± 131μm2, 502 ± 134μm2, and 598 ± 168μm2 at baseline and months 1 and 6,
respectively; P = 0.003). Subfoveal CVI increased at month 1 and then decreased at month 6 (68.25 ± 3.05,
69.74 ± 3.62, and 67.84 ± 1.77 at baseline and months 1 and 6, respectively; P < 0.001). A reverse pattern
occurred in eyes with early PDR, a non-significant increase in TCA at month 1 followed by a decrease at month
6 (497 ± 95μm2, 514 ± 133μm2, and 425 ± 95μm2 at baseline and months 1 and 6, respectively; P = 0.011). CVI
decreased at month 1 and remained relatively stable at month 6 (69.34 ± 3.11, 68.33 ± 3.41, and 68.50 ± 5.04
at baseline, and months 1 and 6, respectively; P = 0.023). Alteration of choroidal thickness was not statistically
significant in both groups.
Conclusion: Eyes with very severe NPDR and early PDR exhibit a reverse pattern regarding choroidal indices after PRP.
