AIM: To investigate the choroidal thickness changes in macular area and facular area of patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR)after panretinal photocoagulation(PRP).

METHODS: Totally 40 cases(78 eyes)of DR patients with PRP in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 were selected, and optical coherence tomography(OCT)was conducted for preoperative and postoperative choroidal thickness in macular area and facular area.

RESULTS: At 1mo after PRP, the subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT), nasal choroidal thickness(NCT), the temporal choroidal thickness(TCT), superior choroidal thickness(SCT), inferior choroidal thickness(ICT)were sharply higher than those before operation, the difference was statistically significant(t=2.016, t=2.017, t=2.001, t=2.264, t=2.229; P<0.05). SFCT, NCT, TCT, SCT and ICT at postoperative 3mo sharply decreased when compared to those before operation, showing statistical significance(t=2.048, t=2.051, t=2.092, t=2.010, t=2.273; P<0.05). Postoperative baseline level average choroidal thickness in facular area of 227.6±44.9μm was evidently higher than that at postoperative 1mo(207.1±41.6μm), the difference had statistical points(t=2.118, P<0.05). The mean thickness at postoperative 3mo(206.5±41.3μm)was apparently lower than the baseline level mean choroidal thickness 227.6±44.9μm, the difference showed statistical significance(t=2.188, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The choroid thickness at macular region rises obviously for short term after PRP, while that in facula area reduces markedly, which shows choroidal blood flow redistribution after operation.