Establishment of Criteria for Judging the Effectiveness of Laser Photocoagulation Using Fundus Autofluorescence as an Indicator of Scar Formation Process

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09777
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Nozaki Miho 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 教授 (00295601)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高瀬 範明 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 研究員 (00812124) ; 小椋 祐一郎 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 教授 (70191963)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 糖尿病網膜症 / ショートパルスレーザー / 汎網膜光凝固 / 眼底自発蛍光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Short-pulse laser is popular for its advantages like less pain. However, its effectiveness compared to conventional laser is still debated. The aim of this study was to compare fundus autofluores-cence (FAF) luminosity changes of laser photocoagulation scars between the conventional laser (0.2 sec) and the short-pulse laser (0.02 sec) for diabetic retinopathy. To evaluation FAF, individual gray-scale values of the laser scars adjacent to the retinal arcade vessels were recorded, then, the mean gray values of the scars were divided by the luminosity of arcade vein.The scars with short-pulse laser showed slower hypo-fluorescence progression compared to those with conventional laser. The findings suggest that the short-pulse laser exhibited a slower progression of hypo-FAF, indicating a more delayed response in improving retinal ischemia following short-pulse laser PRP.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ショートパルスレーザーは、痛みが少なく短時間に治療が可能であるが、虚血改善効果が遅いことが示唆される。糖尿病網膜症をはじめとした虚血性網膜疾患に対して、レーザー光凝固治療が重要であるが、ショートパルスレーザーを用いる場合は、血管内皮増殖因子阻害薬との併用などにより、虚血改善効果が遅いことを補填し、痛みが少なく、より患者に負担のない治療法を考えるべきであろう。