Assessment of Retinal Microvascular Changes by Oct Angiography after use of Argon Micropulse Laser Versus Traditional Argon Laser for Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema

Background: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the main factor causing diabetic patients' eyesight impairment around the world. One novel non-invasive technique for imaging and monitoring DME is optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The study aims to compare retinal microvascular changes by OCTA after the use of argon micropulse laser versus traditional argon laser in order to treat diabetic macular edema. Patients and methods: The research was performed on 50 eyes of 34 diabetic macular edema patients. After clinical assessment and imaging by OCTA, 25 eyes were treated by conventional argon laser and included in group A, while another 25 eyes were treated by micropulse argon laser and included in group B. Results: OCTA metrics regarding FAZ enlargement, decrease in vessel density, and increase in areas of non-perfusion showed more detectable changes after four months than one month. The parameters did not change significantly after four months, with slightly less progression with MPLT. The conventional laser treatment group showed slightly more effective results than the MPLT group regarding functional parameters. Conclusion: MPL and conventional laser have slightly similar results as regards OCTA metrics after four months.