Related Experiment Videos
What effect does laser photocoagulation have on driving visual fields in diabetics?
A R Pearson1, V Tanner, S J Keightley
1Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton, UK.
Eye (London, England)
|June 6, 1998
Summary
Laser panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for diabetic retinopathy can impair vision. While 42% of treated eyes failed uniocular tests, 88% of patients passed binocular driving field tests, especially those without Type II diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Diabetic Retinopathy Management
- Visual Field Testing
Background:
- Laser panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is a standard treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
- PRP is known to cause peripheral visual field constriction.
- Previous studies on driving field test failure post-PRP have yielded conflicting results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the risk of failing the UK driving field test after PRP treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
- To assess uniocular and binocular Esterman visual fields in diabetic patients post-PRP.
Main Methods:
- Sixty diabetic patients undergoing PRP with argon laser (500 microns spot size) were evaluated.
- Uniocular and binocular Esterman visual fields were assessed.
- Data was analyzed by the Chairman of the Visual Standards Sub-Committee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
Main Results:
- Forty-two percent of uniocular visual fields from treated eyes failed the test.
- Twelve percent of binocular visual fields from patients with bilateral PRP failed.
- Type II diabetes significantly increased the risk of visual field test failure.
Conclusions:
- Despite a high failure rate in individual treated eyes, most diabetic patients (88%) pass binocular driving field tests even after bilateral PRP.
- Type II diabetes is a risk factor for visual field impairment after PRP.
- Visual field testing remains crucial for assessing fitness to drive post-PRP.