AIM: To investigate the influences of 577nm panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)on the retinal thickness of macular fovea on diabetic retinopathy(DR).

METHODS: A total of 45 eyes of 37 cases suffering from preproliferative diabetic retinopathy(PPDR)and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)undergoing 577nm PRP were enrolled in this study. The alterations of the retinal thickness of macular fovea measured by optovue optical coherence tomography(OCT)before and 1, 3, 6mo following PRP were comparatively analyzed.

RESULTS: The macularfoveal retinal thickness after 1, 3mo of PRP had significantly increased that before operation(P<0.05). After 6mo postoperative follow-up, it gradually recovered to the level before PRP, with no significant difference(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: After the treatment of PRP, it appeared a transient increase on the retinal thickness of macular fovea, but after 6mo following-up, the macular foveal retinal thickness decreased nearly to the levels before PRP.