Central retinal thickness following panretinal photocoagulation using a multispot semi-automated pattern-scanning laser to treat ischaemic diabetic retinopathy: Treatment in one session compared with four monthly sessions.

PURPOSE: To compare central retinal thickness (CRT) after panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) with a multispot semi-automated PAttern-SCAnning Laser (PASCAL) in one session (SS-PRP) versus four monthly sessions (MS-PRP) in diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Multicentre, prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial evaluating the noninferiority of SS-PRP versus MS-PRP for CRT measured with macular spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), with a 9-month follow-up in patients presenting severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) or mild proliferative DR without macular oedema (ME) at baseline. RESULTS: Ninety-seven eyes of 97 participants with a mean age of 57.0 ± 14.2 years were included. The mean change of CRT from baseline to 9 months was not statistically different in SS-PRP or in MS-PRP: +16.9 ± 28.3 µm versus +24.7 ± 31.8 µm, respectively (p = 0.224). The variation in mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 9 months was similar in both groups: -1.1 ± 6.5 letters versus -0.6 ± 6.2 letters (p = 0.684). The number of patients with stabilization of DR was not statistically different between the two groups. No severe complication was recorded in either group. CONCLUSION: This study showed the noninferiority of PRP performed in one session versus four monthly sessions with a PASCAL concerning central retinal thickness for treating mild proliferative or severe nonproliferative DR without ME at baseline.

PREGO (presentation of Graves' orbitopathy) study: changes in referral patterns to European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres over the period from 2000 to 2012.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The epidemiology of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) may be changing. The aim of the study was to identify trends in presentation of GO to tertiary centres and initial management over time. METHODS: Prospective observational study of European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres. All new referrals with a diagnosis of GO over a 4-month period in 2012 were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics, referral timelines and initial decisions about management were recorded. The data were compared with a similar EUGOGO survey performed in 2000. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of 269 patients studied in 2012 were similar to those collected in the year 2000, including smoking rates (40.0% vs 40.2%). Mild (60.5% vs 41.2%, p<0.01) and inactive GO (63.2% vs 39.9%, p<0.01) were more prevalent in 2012. The times from diagnosis of thyroid disease to being seen in EUGOGO centres (6 vs 16 months) and from first symptoms of GO (9 vs 16 months) or from diagnosis of GO (6 vs 12 months) to first consultation in EUGOGO centres were shorter in 2012 (p<0.01). The initial management plans for GO were no different except surgical treatments for patients with mild inactive disease were more frequently offered in the 2012 cohort than in 2000 (27.3% vs 17%, p<0.05), and selenium supplements were offered only in the 2012 cohort (21.2% vs 0%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the clinical manifestations of patients with GO may be changing over time in Europe.