Aqueous flare and macular edema in eyes with diabetic retinopathy.
BACKGROUND
The breakdown of the blood-retina barrier in diabetic patients is correlated with a dysfunction of the blood-aqueous barrier. In our study, we wanted to investigate the effect of grid photocoagulation in diabetic macular edema on the aqueous flare.


METHODS
Modified grid pattern photocoagulation was performed on 20 patients with diabetic macular edema. The aqueous flare intensity was measured by the laser flare cell meter before and 4 months after laser treatment.


RESULTS
The mean flare value was 9.8 +/- 4.7 photons/ms before laser treatment. After grid photocoagulation, the flare value was 7.1 +/- 3.6 photons/ms. Flare values were significantly decreased after laser treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a correlation between the effect of grid photocoagulation on the blood-retina barrier and the permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier. The laser flare intensity seems to be a quantitative indicator for the diabetic dysfunction of the blood-retina barrier.
Jandrasits
Kerstin
K
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Austria. kerstin.jandrasits@univie.ac.at
Krepler
Katharina
K
Wedrich
Andreas
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000502:physiology*; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity