Effect of Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy on the Optic Disc Topography

In cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is the first-line treatment. Although PRP reduces the risk of severe vision loss, it has been shown that laser energy can cause destruction to all layers of retina including the ganglion cells and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and therefore generate visual field defects similar to that observed in glaucomatous damage. In such cases, visual field testing can be less helpful to evaluate glaucomatous damage in PDR patients treated with PRP.