title: Effect of panretinal photocoagulation treatment on vision-related quality of life of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of laser panretinal photocoagulation for bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy on vision-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, 20 patients (12 men and 8 women) with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with panretinal photocoagulation were included (mean age: 65 years, SD: 11.6 years). On average, patients received 2,140 laser spots per eye. The National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was used to evaluate patients' vision-related quality of life. The VFQ-25 was filled in by interview twice, at the beginning and at least 1 month after the completion of panretinal photocoagulation. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores was performed. Correlation was evaluated between change in composite score and treatment intensity as indicated by mean number in laser spots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean composite score before laser treatment was 71.9 ± 14.8 and after treatment it was 70.6 ± 17.2 (P = 0.748, paired t-test). None of the subscale scores had a statistically significant difference before and after treatment. Composite score change was not correlated with treatment intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Panretinal photocoagulation as applied in our study, although destructive in nature, is well tolerated by the patients, without interfering significantly with their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. tsilimb@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Miltiadis K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tsilimbaris
authors.forename: Georgios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kontadakis
authors.forename: Chrysanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsika
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charoniti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology