Influence of laser photocoagulation on choroidal capillary cytoarchitecture

Abstract

Aim - To identify if laser photocoagulation induces morphological changes specifically related to the choroidal capillary endothelial processes that protrude into Bruch's membrane. Methods - Two human eyes and one adult macaque monkey eye received retinal laser photocoagulation that was just suprathreshold, before enucleation or exenteration. They were examined by electron microscopy to determine the length of the endothelial processes emanating from the choroidal capillaries in the region around the laser burn. One human and two monkey untreated eyes were used for comparison. Results - In human eyes, there was no increase in the number of processes 15 hours after laser treatment but at 5 da..