The influence on ocular surface produced by panretinal photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Objective To observe the influence on ocular surface of the panretinal photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR). Methods In the study , 48 eyes of 48 cases with severe nonproliferative DR were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups randomly, with 25 eyes in the trial group and the other 23 eyes in the control group. The trial group received the treatment of panretinal photocoagulation implemented by four steps at 7 days intervals. The control group was not treated. The breakup time test (BUT), Schirmer I test, fluorescein corneal staining were carried out before the first time treatment and 3days, 7days (before the second time treatment), 14 days (before the third time treatment), 21days (before the forth time treatment), 28days, 60days as well as 90 days after the first treatment. Results The trial group after laser photocoagulation had significantly lower mean BUT and higher mean fluorescein staining scores at all examination points compared with those before laser photocoagulation(P 0.05). Conclusion Panretinal photocoagulation can affect ocular surface in patients with DR. Clinicians should pay much attention to those changes. Key words: Panretinal photocoagulation; Breakup time, tear membrane; Corneal staining; Schirmer I test