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Dynamic changes in retinal and choriocapillaris vascular density post-laser photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy

Eye (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the changes in vascular density of the retina and choriocapillaris (CC) using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) after retinal laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods

This prospective observational study included 45 eyes from 45 patients, comprising 20 with severe nonproliferative DR and 25 with proliferative DR. SS-OCTA images of the photocoagulation-treated areas were acquired before laser photocoagulation and at 1 h, 1 week, and 1 month follow-ups. Vessel densities of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and CC were analysed in the laser spot area (LSA), total area (TA), and non-laser spot area (NLSA).

Results

At baseline, the vascular density of the CC within the LSA was 65.4 ± 5.0%. This significantly decreased at 1 h after laser photocoagulation, followed by gradual recovery at 1 week and 1 month. However, the vascular density remained significantly lower than baseline at 1 month (all P < 0.001). The CC vessel density in the NLSA showed a similar trend but was not significantly different from baseline at 1 month (P = 1.000). The SCP vessel density in the LSA was 25.7 ± 3.1% at baseline, increased at 1 h after laser therapy, and then decreased at 1 week and 1 month. The DCP showed a decreasing trend from baseline through 1 h, 1 week, and 1 month after laser photocoagulation.

Conclusions

Retinal laser photocoagulation affects the CC, SCP, and DCP differently, enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms behind laser photocoagulation.

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Fig. 1: Image processing and quantitative analysis procedure.
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Data availability

The data analysed or generated in this study can be provided by the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Amin Xu, Gongpeng Sun.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Amin Xu, Gongpeng Sun, Qiaoling Lai, Xiaoling Wang, Weichen Xu, Xiangxiang Zhu, Yuhong Nie, Zhen Chen & Changzheng Chen

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  1. Amin Xu
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  2. Gongpeng Sun
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  3. Qiaoling Lai
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  6. Xiangxiang Zhu
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  7. Yuhong Nie
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  8. Zhen Chen
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Contributions

CC, AX, and GS: conception, design, and manuscript preparation. GS: image processing design. AX, GS, QL, XW, WX, XZ, and YN: image and data collection. ZC and CC: manuscript review and revision. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zhen Chen or Changzheng Chen.

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Xu, A., Sun, G., Lai, Q. et al. Dynamic changes in retinal and choriocapillaris vascular density post-laser photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy. Eye (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-04008-5

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