Evaluation of the inner-retinal cells survival after low duration laser treatment measured by electroretinogram in patient with diabetic retinopathy

Background and Objective: To evaluate the Inner-retinal cells survival after low duration laser treatment (50ms duration) measured by electroretinogram in patient with diabetic retinopathy Methods: Twenty-two eyes with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy that underwent three panretinal photocoagulation treatments were prospectively followed. The patients were divided into two groups involving the standard laser or low-duration laser treatment. Survival of the inner retina was assessed using a full-field electroretinography involving changes in amplitude and implicit times of the b-wave rod response. Results: There was no significant change in amplitude in eyes treated with the low-duration laser (-14.29±30.479 μV; p=0.172), but there was a significant change in eyes treated with the standard laser (-45.65±28.189 μV; p=0.001). There was no significant change in implicit times in each group (p=0.177 and p=0.685, respectively). The change in amplitude in eyes treated with the low-duration laser was significantly lower than in eyes treated with the standard laser (-71.43±25.408 versus 8.18±86.432, respectively; p=0.018). Conclusions: Treatment with the low-duration laser is effective in maintaining the survival of inner retinal cells.