TITLE:
Short-Term Changes in Macular Thickness after Panretinal Photocoagulation in Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A Retrospective Study from Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Abdullah Al Marshood, Fawaz Alsarireh
KEYWORDS:
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, Panretinal Photocoagulation, Central Macular Thickness
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.16 No.2,
May
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: This retrospective study evaluated changes in central macular thickness (CMT) and visual acuity (VA) three months after panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. A total of 50 eyes with complete baseline and follow-up data were included. CMT was measured using optical coherence tomography, and VA was recorded using the decimal system. The mean CMT was 250.52 ± 31.07 µm at baseline and 250.84 ± 33.45 µm at three months, with no statistically significant change. Mean VA was 0.416 ± 0.214 at baseline and 0.409 ± 0.243 at three months, with no statistically significant change. These findings indicate that no measurable association was detected between PRP and changes in CMT or VA in this cohort. Further prospective studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed.