About this trial
This study aims to evaluate the impact of widefield OCTA-guided selective photocoagulation on the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by comparing the control of non-perfusion (NP) areas, DR grading, and management of other DR lesions. The study is designed as a parallel randomized controlled trial. From February 2025 to August 2026, 30 diabetic patients attending the Ophthalmology Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital will be enrolled. Using a simple randomization method, one eye of each patient will be assigned to the intervention group, while the contralateral eye will serve as the control, resulting in 30 eyes in each group. The intervention group will undergo OCTA-guided selective photocoagulation, specifically using a grid pattern (3x3) of spot laser applied once to the NP area, extending one spot diameter beyond the NP boundary. Each session will last 10-20 minutes. The control group will receive no treatment. The study will compare changes in NP area, DR grading progression, and control of other DR lesions at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months between the two groups.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Age ≥ 18 years
Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Clinical dilated fundus examination and Optos imaging within 7 fields showing diabetic retinopathy (DR) lesions no more severe than severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)
Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) demonstrating non-perfusion (NP) areas greater than 1 disc diameter (PD) in both eyes
Disqualifiers
Optical media opacity affecting OCTA imaging
Patients with difficulties in cooperating with laser treatment
Patients with renal failure, diabetic neuropathy, or severe cardiovascular diseases
Patients who are unlikely to complete follow-ups every 3 months, as well as those residing in other provinces
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Targeted laser photocoagulation guided by OCTA (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography)