Pappa Padmavathi
BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness in developing countries also and can be treated by effective treatment like panretinal photocoagulation. The side effects can be ignored compared to the advantages of laser treatment. The objective of the study is to evaluate the changes in vision-related quality of life following panretinal photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective study of changes in vision related quality of life following pan retinal photocoagulation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy conducted in Retina Clinic, RIO, Trivandrum during the time period of one year from April 2008. Inclusion Criteria- Eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, visual acuity better than or equal to 6/60, a follow up of at least 6 months after pan retinal photocoagulation. Exclusion Criteria- Eyes with cataractous changes in the lens, eyes which would be undergoing or have undergone focal photocoagulation, eyes which have undergone barrage or sectoral retinal photocoagulation, patients with colour blindness, eyes with vitreous haemorrhage and macular preretinal haemorrhage, glaucomatous patients with peripheral field loss. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 52yrs., Male patients (30) outnumbered the female patients (23), Mean duration of diabetes was 14.42 years, only 16.8% of patients had deterioration in the visual functions questionnaire score, 46.3% stabilised and & 36.8% showed improvement in their vision related quality of life. Among patients with deterioration in visual functions questionnaire score, none had difficulty in their daily routine works. The use of vision targeted health status questionnaires in conjunction with the clinical examination provide an overview of individualsâ?? daily well-being following laser treatment. CONCLUSION Our study showed that there is significant improvement in vision related quality of life following panretinal photocoagulation. So, we recommend pan retinal photocoagulation for all patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy
