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.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major and irreversible blinding eye disease in working aged adults. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of the further development of DR, and it is one of the main causes of vision loss in DR patients. The emergence of anti-VEGF drugs has changed the treatment model of DR and DME. Firstly, for the treatment of DME, the previous focal/grid-like laser photocoagulation is converted to anti-VEGF drugs as the first-line treatment. Secondly, for the treatment of proliferative DR (PDR), panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) was the gold standard in the past, and now anti-VEGF drugs have become an alternative treatment for some PDR patients. In varying degrees of DR and DME, the option of treatment, anti-VEGF drug therapy replacing PRP, and the era of anti-VEGF drug therapy on DR treatment modes are worthy questions for consideration by clinicians. In-depth study of the clinical study of PRP and anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of DR, the changes attention in clinical guidelines and expert consensus, the gradual establishment of treatment of DR and DME suitable, and the personalized treatment of DR patients may help improve the level of DR treatment in China.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of pattern reversal visual evoked potential (PRVEP) and sweep pattern visual evoked potential (SPVEP) in evaluating the visual function of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).MethodsA retrospective clinical trial. A total of 38 monocular CSC patients were enrolled from March 2016 to December2018 in Heping Hospital Affiliated Changzhi Medical College. There were 34 males and 4 females with the mean age of 40.0±5.2 years. All patients undergo PRVEP detection in both the acute phase (disease course ≤ 3 months) and the clinical cure phase (disease course ≤ 6 months) using the German Roland electrophysiological RETIport system.The stimulation pattern adopted a checkerboard with 1.00° and 0.25° stimulation angles. The P100 peak amplitude and peak time were observed. SPVEP inspection equipment and methods were the same as PRVEP, and the spatial frequency was 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 22 cpd. The difference between SPVEP vision and subjective vision were compared. The PRVEP peak amplitude, peak time and SPVEP amplitude and phase of the affected eye and the contralateral eye were compared by paired t test; the subjective vision and SPVEP visual acuity of the affected eye and the contralateral eye were compared by Wilcoxon paired rank test; Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was performed on SPVEP vision.ResultsIn the acute phase, the peak amplitude of P100 in the affected eye was lower than that in the contralateral eye (t=30.26, 13.59), and the peak time was prolonged (t=－19.89, －29.41). The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01); in clinically cured period, the P100 peak amplitude (t=1.49, －0.57) and peak time (t=－1.22, －1.84) of the affected eye and the contralateral eye showed no significant difference (P＞0.05). In the acute phase, the difference in SPVEP amplitude between the affected eye and the contralateral eye with different spatial frequencies was statistically significant (P＜0.01); the phase of the affected eye and the contralateral eye were compared about the spatial frequency 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 cpd, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01). During the clinical cure period, the spatial frequency of 6, 8, 12, 16 cpd, the SPVEP amplitude of the affected eye and the contralateral eye, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01); on the spatial frequency of 6, 8, 12 cpd, the phase of SPVEP was compared between the affected eye and the contralateral eye, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01). During the acute phase and the clinical cure phase, the SPVEP visual acuity of the affected eye was lower than that of the contralateral eye, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01); during the acute phase and clinical cure phase, the SPVEP visual acuity of the affected eye and the contralateral eye were lower than the subjective vision. The difference was statistically significant (acute phase: Z =－5.38, －3.00; P＜0.001, 0.003; clinical cure phase: Z=－5.36, －5.38; P＜0.001,＜0.001). In the acute phase, the subjective visual acuity of the affected eye was positively correlated with SPVEP visual acuity (r=0.847, P＜0.001).ConclusionsPRVEP and SPVEP are useful for objectively assessing the visual function of the patients with CSC. Especially, the slight and potential visual impairment in CSC can been detected by SPVEP.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of local retinal laser photocoagulation (local photocoagulation) on Coats disease.MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 1, 2006 to August 1, 2020, 48 patients (48 eyes) who were diagnosed as Coats disease and received focal photocoagulation at The Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University were included in the study. Among them, there were 40 males (40 eyes) and 8 females (8 eyes). The average age was 32.46±22.41 years old. Nine eyes were in stage 2A, and 39 eyes were in stage 2B. All affected eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color fundus photography and fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA).The BCVA was carried out using a standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted into the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. According to age, patients were divided into the adolescent group (age≤ 20 years old) and the adult group (age＞21 years old), with 18 eyes in 18 cases and 30 eyes in 30 cases, respectively. In the adolescent group, 18 eyes of 18 cases were all male; the average age was 11.17±3.31 years; the average logMAR BCVA was 0.83±0.60. Among the 30 patients in the adult group, 22 patients were male and 8 patients were female. the average age was 49.26±15.26 years old; the average logMAR BCVA was 0.82±0.59. All the affected eyes were treated with focal photocoagulation. Laser parameters were as followed: wavelength 577 nm, spot diameter 500 μm, exposure time 0.5 to 0.7 s, spot intensity level Ⅲ. FFA was FFA was performed 3 to 4 months after the first laser photocoagulation, and laser treatment was repeated as needed. The average follow-up after first treatment was 36.88±36.92 months. The changes in BCVA, abnormal blood vessels in the fundus, and hard exudation were observed.ResultsAmong 48 eyes, 36 eyes (75.00%, 36/48) received multiple local photocoagulation treatments. At the last follow-up, 36 eyes (75.00%, 36/48) had an improved or stable vision, and 17 eyes (35.42%, 17/48) had BCVA ≤ 0.32 logMAR units (≥ 0.5). The average logMAR BCVA of eyes in the adolescent group was 0.66±0.54, which was higher than the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant (Z=－1.126, P=0.260). The average logMAR BCVA of the eyes in the adult group was 0.96±0.79, which was lower than the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant (Z=－0.482, P=0.630). Among 48 eyes, abnormal blood vessels were completely or partially occluded in 42 eyes (87.50%, 42/48); of which, 29 eyes were completely occluded (60.42%, 29/48), and 13 eyes were partially occluded (27.08%, 13/48)). The hard exudation at macula or peripheral retina were completely absorbed or obviously absorbed in 40 eyes (83.33%, 40/48); among them, the complete and obvious absorption were 11 (22.92%, 11/48) and 29 (60.42%, 29/48) eyes.ConclusionThe treatment of focal photocoagulation with a larger spot, long exposure and weak level Ⅲ spot can effectively seal abnormal blood vessels in the eyes of Coats disease,reduce hard exudation and improve or stabilize vision.
ObjectiveTo observe the change of retinal microstructures and the association between visual outcome with these microstructures in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) after laser treatment.MethodsThis is a retrospective study. From April 2016 to February 2017, a total of 52 eyes from 52 patients who underwent conventional laser treatment (27 eyes) or subthreshold laser treatment (25 eyes) for CSC and the sub-retinal fluid (SRF) absorbed completely were included in this study. The were 46 patients (46 eyes) and 6 males (6 eyes), with the mean age of 43.92±8.62 years. The healthy fellow eyes (49 eyes) were selected as control. All patients were underwent BCVA and SD-OCT examination. According to the OCT images for all patients, the thickness of central foveal (CFT), outer nuclear (ONL), inner segment (IS), outer segment (OS) were measured. The status of ellipsoid zone (EZ), interdigitation zone (IZ) and RPE were also evaluated at fovea. Comparing the change of SD-OCT microstructures in two time points, the first visit after SRF absorbed and the last visit respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relation between BCVA and ONL, IS, OS.ResultsAt the first visit after SRF absorbed, compared with control eyes, the thickness of CFT (182.55±24.14 μm), ONL (72.86±17.39 μm), IS (41.23±5.14 μm), OS (18.52±10.26 μm) in CSC eyes were decreased (P＜0.001). Meanwhile, the mean BCVA of CSC eyes was 81.27±6.39 letters, which was also significantly decreased comparing with control eyes (P＜0.001). At last visit, the thickness of CFT, ONL, IS, OS were 195.19±22.10, 75.44±16.33, 44.56±4.09, 26.60±11.39 μm, and the mean BCVA was 85.50±5.95 letters. All recovered significantly comparing with first visit (P＜0.05). At first visit, the BCVA of patients with integrate EZ (83.38±5.78 letters) was significantly better than the BCVA of patients with unintegrated EZ (77.90±5.97 letters) (P=0.003). And the BCVA of patients with smooth RPE (82.72±5.95 letter) was also significantly better than the BCVA of patients with rough RPE (78.00±6.31 letters) (P=0.020). The result of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the thickness of OS was positively correlated to BCVA at two time points (r=0.423, 0.416; P=0.002, 0.002).ConclusionsIn CSC, the thickness of ONL, IS, OS were decreased, and the integrality of EZ, IZ, the smooth of RPE were disrupted in different extent. After laser treatment, with retinal reattachment, those microstructures including ONL, IS, OS, EZ, IZ recovered slowly. The thickness of OS, the integrality of EZ and the smooth of RPE were associated with visual acuity.
ObjectiveTo observe the short-term efficacy of sub-Tenon’s triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in the treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME) after cataract surgery.MethodsA retrospective study. From October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2018, 21 patients (21 eyes) with CME after cataract surgery diagnosed at The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were included in this study. All eyes underwent BCVA, intraocular pressure, frequency domain OCT examination. The standard logarithmic visual acuity chart was used for BCVA examination, which was converted into logMAR visual acuity when recorded. A frequency domain OCT instrument was used to measure the foveal retinal thickness (CRT). Among 21 eyes of 21 patients, 9 eyes were male and 12 eyes were female; the average age was 66.38±10.88 years. The average logMAR BCVA was 0.46±0.23; the average CRT was 519.90±131.59 μm; the average intraocular pressure was 11.01±3.97 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). All eyes underwent a single treatment of 100 mg/ml TA suspension 0.4 ml (containing TA 40 mg) under Tenon's capsule. The average follow-up time after treatment was 32.86±20.2 days. The changes of BCVA, CRT and intraocular pressure were observed 1 month after treatment. The BCVA, CRT and intraocular pressure before and after treatment were compared by paired t test.ResultsOne month after treatment, the average logMAR BCVA, CRT, and intraocular pressure of the CME eyes were 0.29±0.22, 307.71±35.82 μm and 14.19±6.30 mmHg, respectively. Compared with those before treatment, the differences were statistically significant (t=5.252, 8.166, 4.128; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.001). Among 21 eyes, 13 eyes (61.90%) of the retinal cysts in the macular area completely disappeared; 8 eyes (38.1%) were still visible between the retinal layers. Three eyes with intraocular pressure over than 21 mmHg were treated with lowering intraocular pressure and returned to normal.ConclusionSub-Tenon’s capsular injection of TA to treat CME after cataract surgery can reduce CRT and improve vision in a short time.