ORIGINAL ARTICLE Electroretinogram evaluation for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy by short-pulse pattern scanning laser panretinal photocoagulation Haiyun Ye 1,2 & Minzhong Yu 1,3 & Lin Lu 1 & Chenjin Jin 1 & Guangwei Luo 1 Received: 28 May 2017 / Accepted: 26 February 2018 # Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is a standard method for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) treatment. However, conventional PRP usually significantly damages the retinal structure and vision. Retinal pattern scanning laser (PASCAL) photocoagulation has emerged as a new technique with fewer complications for the treatment of retinal disorders. This study compares the therapeutic effects of short-pulse PASCAL to conventional single-spot PRP for PDR. Fifty-two PDR patients (104 eyes) were randomly assigned into a short-pulse PASCAL-PRP treatment (SP) group and a conventional PRP treatment (TP) group. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and full-field flash electroretinogram (ERG) data were evaluated before and after the two treatments. The BCVA data between before and after the PRP treatments did not show any significant difference. After the PRP treatment, the b-wave amplitude (b-A) in the dark-adapted 3.0 ERG (p = 0.0005) and the amplitude in the light-adapted 3.0 flicker ERG (p = 0.009) were significantly higher in the SP group compared with that of the TP group. In addition, after the PRP treatment, the a-wave implicit time (a-T) of light-adapted 3.0 ERG prolonged significantly in the TP group compared to the SP group. Compared with the parameters before the treatments, the a-A and b-A under dark-adapted 3.0 ERG and the b-A under the light-adapted 3.0 ERG in both TP and SP groups after the treatments decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Short-pulse PASCAL-PRP significantly attenuated partial vision damage compared to conventional PRP, although it still caused limited retinal injury and mild reduction in retinal function. These findings suggest that short-pulse PASCAL-PRP is a promising technique for PDR treatment. Keywords PASCAL . PRP . Electroretinogram . Retinal function Introduction According to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), argon laser panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is the preferred method for first-line treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)—a therapy which reduces the risk of severe visual loss [1]. PRP can effectively prevent the PDR’ s abnormal retinal neovascularization that is the major cause of the vision injury. Despite having some therapeutic effectiveness, complications (such as pain, scar enlargement, severe decline of the retinal sensitivity, and choroidal neovas- cularization) still exist during or after this conventional PRP treatment. Therefore, microsecond and short-pulse laser pho- tocoagulation techniques are becoming popular with ophthal- mologists to reduce those side effects [2, 3]. Recently, retinal pattern scanning laser photocoagulation (PASCAL, Opti Medica, Santa Clara, CA) characterized by short-pulse duration has emerged as a new technique for clin- ical application. Previous evidence showed that only mild retinal lesions are caused by PASCAL treatment. Therefore, this new technique promises advantages over conventional single-shot laser photocoagulation, which has a higher risk of retinal injury caused by overtreatment [4, 5]. * Chenjin Jin jinchj@mail.sysu.edu.cn * Guangwei Luo 2679894159@qq.com 1 State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 54 South Xianlie Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, China 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Children’ s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200060, China 3 Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States Lasers in Medical Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2474-0