The effect of the distribution of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) laser on driving visual fields in people with diabetes

Research summary

Maintaining adequate vision for safe driving is a common concern for people with diabetic eye disease. One of the typical treatments for severe levels of diabetic eye disease is panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) laser treatment. Although PRP laser has been shown to halve the risk of severe vision loss and help to stabilise diabetic eye disease in the long term, it causes laser scars that can affect peripheral vision. In addition to visual acuity standards (reading a number plate from 20m), the Driving Licence and Vehicle Agency (DVLA) has set out standards for the level of peripheral vision required to hold a driving licence, and people who have had PRP laser undergo visual field testing to confirm whether they meet this standard. The risk of failing this test is a major concern for people with diabetes who wish to drive. PRP laser treatments vary widely in the distribution of the laser scars created on the retina. Reasons for this include differences in the severity of the disease, the type of laser being used, the preferred settings of the laser operator, the location of the most severely affected parts of the retina, and time since the laser treatment. Although some small studies in the UK have shown encouraging results about people with diabetes retaining driving vision in the short-term after PRP laser, they have not assessed how the distribution of PRP laser scars impact this. This is a pilot study which aims to provide new data on how different extents of PRP laser impact driving visual fields and subjective visual function in people with diabetes. The results of this study will help with the development of a protocol for a larger, more in-depth study of the impact of established eye treatments for diabetic retinopathy on peripheral vision, including driving vision.

Principal Investigator

Dr Christine Kiire

Contact us

Email: ERGO@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

344298