Evaluation of macular perfusion in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy using optical coherence tomography - Angiography following panretinal photocoagulation

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) on macular perfusion using optical coherence tomography–angiography (OCT-A) in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by assessing the vessel density (VD) and the size of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus (DCP), before and after PRP. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective interventional study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes of 17 patients with PDR underwent a measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and were imaged using OCT and OCT-A at baseline and 6-months of follow-up. Patients received three sittings of PRP using frequency-doubled neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The OCT-A variables were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: BCVA was unchanged at 6-months follow-up (P = 0.09). FAZ of SCP and DCP (P = 0.28 and 0.89, respectively), VD at foveal SCP (P = 0.08), foveal DCP (P = 0.05), parafoveal SCP (P = 0.13), and parafoveal DCP (P = 0.07) showed no statistically significant difference at 6 months post PRP. CONCLUSIONS: OCT-A parameters were not significantly affected by PRP at 6-months follow-up indicating no alteration in macular perfusion. Further analyses with larger samples and longer duration are warranted to confirm our results.