Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a common ocular complication of diabetes patients. It mainly involve macular which is closely related with visual function, thus DME is one of the major reasons causing visual impairment or blindness for diabetes patients. How to reduce the visual damage of DME is always a big challenge in the ophthalmic practice. In the past three decades, there are tremendous developments in DME treatments, from laser photocoagulation, antiinflammation drugs to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. However, the mechanism of DME development is not yet completely clear; every existing treatment has its own advantages and weaknesses. Therefore DME treatment still challenges us to explore further to reduce the DME damages.
Objective To compare the clinical results of yellow micro-pulse laser and traditional laser grid (MLG) photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods Seventy-eight patients (106 eyes) with DME diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into micro-pulse group (39 patients, 51 eyes) and MLG group (39 patients, 55 eyes). The patients of micropulse group underwent 577 nm yellow micro-pulse laser therapy, while the patients of MLG group underwent continuous wavelength laser photocoagulation with a 561 nm yellow green laser. All the patients were examined documenting corrected visual acuity, macular retinal thickness (CMT) and mean sensitivity within macular 10 deg; examination before and after treatment. Six months after treatment was considered as the judgment time for the therapeutic effects. The mean corrected visual acuity, CMT and MS were comparatively analyzed. Results Six months after treatment, the mean corrected visual acuity of micropulse group and MLG group were 0.45plusmn;0.20 and 0.42plusmn;0.20, which increased significantly compared to those before treatment (t=3.404,2.316; P＜0.05). The difference of mean corrected visual acuity between before and after treatment of micro-pulse group and MLG group were 0.08plusmn;0.02 and 0.06plusmn;0.03, the difference was statistically significant between two groups (t=0.532, P＞0.05). The mean CMT of micropulse group and MLG group were (323.94plusmn;68.30) and (355.85plusmn;115.88) mu;m, which decreased significantly compared to those before treatment (t=4.028, 2.039; P＜0.05). The difference of mean CMT between before and after treatment of micro-pulse group and MLG group were (55.12plusmn;13.68) and (22.25plusmn;10.92) mu;m. The difference was not statistically significant between two groups (t=1.891,P＞0.05). The mean MS of micro-pulse group and MLG group were (6.63plusmn;2.65) and (4.53plusmn;1.81) dB. The mean MS of micro-pulse group increased significantly compared to that before treatment(t=3.335,P＜0.05). The mean MS of MLG group decreased significantly compared to that before treatment (t=3.589,P＜0.05). The difference of mean MS between before and after treatment of micro-pulse group and MLG group were (1.10plusmn;0.33) and (-0.91plusmn;0.25) dB.The difference was statistically significant between groups (t=4.872，P＜0.05). Conclusions In the treatment of DME, yellow micro-pulse laser therapy and MLG can improve visual acuity, and reduce CMT. In addition, yellow micro-pulse laser therapy can improve the MS, but MLG reduces MS.
Intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic agents is widely used to treat retinal vascular disease. This therapy can induce regression of neovascular vessels; reduce intraocular inflammation and retinal vascular permeability, and control macular edema. However the action period of these agents is short, and thus this therapy need repeated injections which cause higher operation risk and cost. Retinal laser photocoagulation therapy can close retinal capillary non-perfusion area and neovascular vessels, reduce macular edema caused by vascular leakage. However, as its therapeutic effect is based on the destruction of the retinal tissues in the lesion area, this therapy need longer time to show its effects. When the disease is controlled by this method, it may already induce some structural irreversible damages to the retina, especially the macular. This is why the visual acuity is not satisfactory in some patients, even though the disease get controlled, macular edema gets disappeared and anatomical structure of retina get improved. Properly evaluating all the pros and cons of retinal photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic agents, will allow us to explore a better way to combine these two therapies to treat retinal vascular diseases.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide combined of macular laser grid photocoagulation (IVTA/MLG) versus macular laser grid (MLG) photocoagulation only for treatment of diabetic macular edema. Methods A computerized search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, Embase Library, Pubmed, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Journal Full-text Database and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) on IVTA/MLG and MLG only for treatment of diabetic macular edema were selected. After the data extraction, quality of RCT was assessed. The meta analysis was performed by RevMan 5.1.The outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the central foveal thickness (CMT). Results In total, six RCT that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the metaanalysis involving 166 eyes in MLG group and 165 eyes in IVTA/MLG group. The results suggested that there was no significant differences in BCVA (Z=1.27,P=0.20), but differences were statistically significant comparing CMT (Z=2.41,P=0.02), incidence of ocular hypertension and cataract (Z=3.62,P＜0.01) between MLG and IVTA/MLG groups at the six month follow-up. Conclusions There is no significant advantage of IVTA/MLG as compared with MLG,but it could reduce CMT. However, a high-quality, large sample RCT should be further investigated.
Objective To observe the development of cone/rod functions in children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after laser photocoagulation. Methods 30 ROP patients (60 eyes) treated with laser photocoagulation (case group) and 30 preterm infants (60 eyes) without ROP (control group) were enrolled in this study. Flash Electroretinogram (F-ERG) was performed on all the children, and the response of rod cells and cone cells, maximal mixed responses and oscillatory potentials were recorded. Results Compared with the control group, the amplitude of response of rod cells was obviously decreased (t=-2.385, P＜0.05), while the latency phase of rod cells was obviously prolonged (t=-2.799,P＜0.05); the amplitudes of a-and b-wave of maximal response were significantly decreased in the case group (t=-2.967, -4.037; P＜0.05). But there was no significant difference of amplitudes(t=-1.402) and latency phase (t=-1.637,0.465)of b-/a-wave of the maximal mixed response between two groups(P＞0.05). In the response of cone cells, there was no significant difference of the latency phase (t=1.222) and amplitude (t=-0.636)of a-wave as well as amplitude (t=-1.927) of b-wave between two groups (P＞0.05). The latency phase of b-wave of cone cells in the case group was longer than that in the control group (t=-2.466,P＜0.05). Conclusions Compared to no-ROP preterm infant retina, laser-treated ROP retina has normal cone function development and delayed rod function development.
The concept of treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) has evolved dramatically with the understanding of its pathogenesis recently. Initial clinical studies found that CSC is a selflimiting disease, therefore advocated observation or conservative treatment was recommended. Further study by fundus fluorescein angiography indicated that CSC results from barrier dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which leads to serous RPE and (or) neural retinal detachment; so laser photocoagulation to close RPE leakage points by its thermal effects became a strategy to treat CSC. Recent study by indocyanine green angiography revealed that increased choroidal vascular permeability can induce high hydrostatic pressure and focal RPE detachment, resulting in mechanical breakage of RPE barrier. This is likely the major pathological basis of CSC now. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can embolize of choroidal capillary network, thereby preventing choroidal leakage caused by increased capillary permeability, and thus cure the CSC. However the search for the pathogenesis and better treatment of CSC is far from over. Further investigation about pathogenesis and improvement of diagnosis and treatment is an urgent need for clinic work, but also major issues challenging the wisdom of an ophthalmologist. We need to work together to promote more and better clinical and basic research of CSC.
Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and macular photocoagulation (MPC) are the gold standard treatments for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema. With the development of equipment and technology advancement, photocoagulation has been gradually applied in many Eye Centers all over China. However, there are still several problems such as no standardized guideline and undesirable therapeutic effects. In this article we will summarize the indications and techniques of photocoagulation, and when and how to apply drug treatments for retinal diseases; aim at improving the criterion and clinical effects of photocoagulation.
Objective To observe the functional and morphological changes of macular after panretinal photocoagulation（PRP）in the patients with diabetic retinopathy（DR）.Methods A total of 57 eyes of 34 patients with DR undergoing PRP were enrolled in this prospective and self-reflection study. Comparatively analyze the changes of the best visual acuity（BCVA）, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multi-focal electroretinography (mfERG) before PRP,20 days, 3 months and more than 9 months after PRP. Statistical analyses were performed by wilcoxon, chisquare, Dunnett-t, LSD-t tests and spearman related analyses. The changes of macular function and foveal retinal thickness before and after PRP were comparatively analyzed.Results BCVA of all patients reduced at 9 months after PRP（P=0.022）.The amplitude density of mfERG P1 of ring 2 decreased at 20 days after PRP（P=0.039）,then recovered at 3 months and decreased again at 9 months（P=0.014）.The amplitude density of mfERG P1 of ring 3-5 decreased at 20 days,3 months and more than 9 months after PRP（20 days: ring 3: P=0.000,ring 4: P=0.001, ring 5: P=0.000；3 months: ring 3:P=0.000, ring 4: P=0.006, ring 5: P=0.001; more than 9 months: ring 3: P=0.000,ring 4: P=0.000, ring 5: P=0.000）. The amplitude density of mfERG P1 of ring 1 was significantly lower at 9 months after PRP（P=0.050）. The foveal retinal thickness increased at 20 days after PRP(P=0.007), then recovered at 3 months or later. Cystoid macular degeneration was found in 6 eyes(10.5%) at 20 days after PRP.Conclusions After the treatment of PRP, there were some extend reduction of the macular function, a transient increase on foveal retinal thickness. Combined mfERG and OCT can be a comprehensively and objectively assessment of macular function and morphology.
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of intravitreal injection with bevacizumab (Avastin) (IVB)combined with extra panretinal photocoagulation (E-PRP) for highrisk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods A total of 57 eyes of 53 patients with highrisk PDR underwent intravitreal injection combined with E-PRP. The examinations of vision acuity, intraocular pressure, iris fluorescein angiography (IFA),fundus photos and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were performed on all of the patients before and 1,2,3,and 6 months after the treatment; the results of the examinations before and after the treatment were compared and analyzed.The average follow up was 6 months.Results The mean visual acuity was (0.143plusmn;0.072) before the treatment and (0.218plusmn;0.128) 7 days after the tretment; the difference was significant (t=-7.940, Plt;0.05). The mean visual acuity 1,3,and 6 months after E-PRP (0.228plusmn;0.138, 0.223plusmn;0.125,0.220plusmn;0.134, respectively) differed much from that before IVB (Plt;0.05), but not so much from that after IVB (Pgt;0.05).The mean intraocular pressure of 21 eyes which had the neovascularization of pupil margin and iris surface before and 7 days after IVB was (26.632plusmn;2.629) and (19.316plusmn;3.092) mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), respectively; the difference was significant (t=12.838, Plt;0.05) . The mean intraocular pressure 1,3,and 6 months after E-PRP was (16.947plusmn;2.345),(16.474plusmn;1.611), and (16.421plusmn;4.702) mm Hg, respectively, which differed much from that before and after IVB (Plt;0.05). Neovascularization on the disc and the retinae of 57 eyes were subsided partly, and a significant reduction or disappeared of the area of retinal neovascularization and the blood vessel leakage were observed 7 days after IVB. The neovascularization of pupil margin and iris surface of 21 eyes disappeared, and the IFA leakage decreased. The results of FFA 2 months after E-PRP showed that the one-off efficiency of E-PRP was 68.4%;12 eyes (21.1%) needed an additional laser, in which 6 eyes (10.5%) underwent vitreous surgery. Conclusion IVB combined with E-PRP as a treatment for highrisk PDR may improve the regression of retinal neovascularization and the reduction of vascular permeability,and prevent or reduce the complications and improve the therapeutic effect.
Objective To observe the factors influencing for results of laser treatment of zone one retinopathy of premature（ROP）. Methods The clinical data of 35 patients（69 eyes）with ROP in zone one who diagnosed by examination of indirect ophthalmoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. The eyes were divided into anterior zone one（49 eyes ）and posterior zone one（20 eyes）. The 69 eyes, aggressive posterior ROP（AP-ROP）in 12 eyes, anterior zone one in four eyes and posterior zone one in eight eyes. The laser photocoagulation of diode indirect ophthalmoscopy with +20 D lens and sclera compressor were used to entire avascular retina. Followup ranged from two to 48 months with the mean of (10.85plusmn;11.35 )months. Take the cristae fadeaway and stable condition as cure; retinopathy proceed to the stage 4 and 5 ROP as retinopathy progress. Results Forty-two out of 69 eyes (60.87%) were cured and retinopathy progress in 27 eyes (39.13%). Thirty-four out of 49 eyes (69.38%) with anterior zone one were cured and retinopathy progress in 15 eyes (30.61%); eight out of 20 eyes (40.00%) with posterior zone one were cured and retinopathy progress in 12 eyes (60.00%). The difference of progress rate between anterior and posterior zone one was statistically significant（chi;2=5.15, P＜0.05).Conclusions Laser photocoagulation is effective for treatment of zone one ROP, the prognosis of anterior zone one is better than posterior zone one; retinopathy progress after photocoagulation was associated with extent of fibrovascular organization.