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Aqueous flare and macular edema in eyes with diabetic retinopathy
Kerstin Jandrasits1, Katharina Krepler, Andreas Wedrich
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Austria. kerstin.jandrasits@univie.ac.at
Background:
The breakdown of the blood-retina barrier in diabetic patients is correlated with a dysfunction of the blood-aqueous barrier. In our study, we wanted to investigate the effect of grid photocoagulation in diabetic macular edema on the aqueous flare.
Methods:
Modified grid pattern photocoagulation was performed on 20 patients with diabetic macular edema. The aqueous flare intensity was measured by the laser flare cell meter before and 4 months after laser treatment.
Results:
The mean flare value was 9.8 +/- 4.7 photons/ms before laser treatment. After grid photocoagulation, the flare value was 7.1 +/- 3.6 photons/ms. Flare values were significantly decreased after laser treatment.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest a correlation between the effect of grid photocoagulation on the blood-retina barrier and the permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier. The laser flare intensity seems to be a quantitative indicator for the diabetic dysfunction of the blood-retina barrier.