VISUAL OUTCOME FOLLOWING PANRETINAL PHOTOCOAGULATION IN PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

BACKGROUND \nDiabetes mellitus can be called as a noninfectious pandemic and the incidence of diabetic retinopathy is also uncontrollable. \nThis vision-threatening complication can be treated by early diagnosis and effective treatment like panretinal photocoagulation. \nThe aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of panretinal photocoagulation on visual acuity, colour vision, contrast \nsensitivity and severity of visual field changes. \nMATERIALS AND METHODS \nProspective study of visual outcome following panretinal photocoagulation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy \nconducted in Retina Clinic, RIO, Trivandrum, during the time period one year from April 2008. \nInclusion Criteria- Eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, visual acuity better than or equal to 6/60, a follow up of at \nleast 6 months after panretinal photocoagulation. \nExclusion Criteria- Eyes with cataractous changes in the lens, eyes, which would be undergoing or have undergone focal \nphotocoagulation eyes, which undergone barrage or sectoral retinal photocoagulation, patients with colour blindness, eyes with \nvitreous haemorrhage and macular preretinal haemorrhage, glaucomatous patients with peripheral field loss. \nRESULTS \nThe mean age of the patients was 52 years. Male patients (30) outnumbered the female patients (23). Mean duration of diabetes \nwas 14.42 years. Though, there is a statistically significant reduction in visual acuity in the first followup, which was improved \nand stabilised by 6 months. There is a statistically significant reduction in the contrast sensitivity, which was stabilised after 3 \nmonths. Only, 9.5% patients had peripheral constrictions of visual field and no significant change in the colour vision. \nCONCLUSION \nWe recommend panretinal photocoagulation for all patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.