title: Changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness after pattern scanning laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) using a pattern scanning laser (PASCAL) system on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 105 eyes with diabetic retinopathy, which consisted of three groups: the PASCAL group that underwent PRP with the PASCAL method (33 eyes), the conventional group that underwent conventional PRP treatment (34 eyes), and the control group that did not receive PRP (38 eyes). The peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography before, six months, and one year after PRP to evaluate the changes in peripapillary RNFL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RNFL thickness in the PASCAL group did not show a significant difference after six months (average 3.7 times, p = 0.15) or one year after the PRP (average 3.7 times, p = 0.086), whereas that in the conventional group decreased significantly after six months (average 3.4 times, p < 0.001) and one year after PRP (average 3.4 times, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that the PASCAL system may protect against RNFL loss by using less energy than conventional PRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yi-Ryeung
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Donghyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jee
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; Panretinal laser coagulation; Pattern scanning laser; Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness