Background and objective: To report the time in which patients with panretinal photocoagulation (PDR) progress to vision-threatening retinopathy (VTR) complications after receiving PRP, and risk factors in routine clinical practice.
Patients and methods: Records of patients with complete PRP for PDR were retrospectively reviewed for up to 3.5 years after PRP. Two hundred twenty eyes were selected.
Results: Time from PRP to VTR was 1.25 ± 0.82 years. Age, Black race, neovascularization of the disc on examination, diabetic foot disease (DFD), and high-risk PDR characteristics on fluorescein angiography were identified as significant risk factors. Half of patients with DFD on examination developed a VTR within 1.5 years after PRP (P < .001).
Conclusion: In clinical practice, providers may consider DFD and Black race as predictors of time to VTR event within 4 years after PRP in patients with PDR. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2022;53(4):186-193.].