The significance of fundus fluorescein angiography after panretinal photocoagulation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the application of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) in the follow-up of diabetic retinopathy patients after panretinal photocoagulation(PRP). Methods Forty-nine eyes of 28 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were treated with PRP and subsequently followed up for 6 months. Two months after PRP, each eye was taken 9 pieces of fundus photography and then was examined with FFA. Two senior doctors analyzed the image data to find capillary nonperfusion and retinal neovascularization. Results According to retinal fundus photography, 9 eyes were found having neovascularization. While according to FFA, retinal or optic disc neovascularization exsited in 12 eyes, and 4 eyes had no neovascularization but had capillary non-perfusion area. Totally 16 eyes were treated with additional retinal photocoagulation again according to results of FFA. Conclusion The follow-up of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy after PRP can be based on fundus photography and should be supplemented by FFA. FFA can early, comprehensively and accurately discover retinal capillary non-perfusion and retinal neovascularization. which contribute to photocoagulation therapy. Key words: Retinopathy, diabetic, proliferative; Photocoagulation, panretinal; Angiography, fundus, fluorescein