AIM: To investigate the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR)after 1a of panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)treatment.

METHODS: A total of 92 patients(92 eyes)with DR who underwent PRP in our hospital from May 2014 to June 2017 were enrolled. The DISC CIRCLE procedure of OCT was used to measure the preoperative and one-year postoperative RNFL of patients with DR in the range of 3.45mm diameter around the optic disc, using Follow-Up program automatic tracking mode. The statistical analysis was conducted according to the values obtained in the four quadrant(superior, nasal, temple and inferior).

RESULTS: The average RNFL thickness around optic disc of the patients with DR after 1a of PRP was significantly thinner than the preoperative, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: PRP treatment can lead to thinning of RNFL in the retina, which should given full attention and consideration the damage of RNFL in clinical practice. The function of protecting retinal nerve cells is of great significance for DR treatment.