A pressure pulse amplitude lowering effect of retinal xenon photocoagulation in normotensive diabetic eyes

In 20 diabetic patients with normal intraocular pressures (IOP) the effect of monocular panretinal xenon photocoagulation of intraocular pressure pulse amplitudes (IOPA) was recorded with the applanating suction cup applied bilaterally. One month after the treatment the photocoagulated eye showed an average decrease in IOPA of 32% which was statistically significant when compared to the untreated fellow eye. The decrease was greater than expected from the simultaneous fall in IOP, this indicated that the photocoagulations affected the vascularity of the choroid. The ocular rigidity was unchanged.