Comparative effect of laser therapy and Fufang xueshuantong capsules in patients with diabetic retinopathy and ocular hemodynamic characteristics

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of combined administration of laser and Fufang xueshuantong capsules in patients with diabetic retinopathy, and its influence on ocular hemodynamics.Methods: A total of 193 patients with diabetic retinopathy in the Ophthalmology Department of Hebei University Affiliated Hospital from October 2020 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: study group (127 patients) and control group (66 patients). Control group received laser therapy in the fundus while the study group was administered 3 capsules (i.e., 1.5 g) of Fufang xueshuantong thrice daily for 7 days. Changes in the fundus and visual acuity, hemodynamic indices of the ophthalmic artery, and changes in macular edema diameter, and adverse reactions in both groups were recorded.Results: In the study group, after treatment, eyeground changes were especially effective (67.37 %), effective (30.51 %), or ineffective (2.12 %). Visual acuity improved (58.90 %), (unchanged at 38.56 %), or decreased (2.54 %). In the control group, laser treatment was especially effective (42.61 %), effective (44.35 %), or ineffective (13.04 %); however, visual acuity increased (36.52 %), unchanged (47.83 %), or decreased (15.65 %). The changes were significant (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ophthalmic artery hemodynamics between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05). After treatment, however, peak systolic velocity (Psv), end diastolic blood flow velocity (Edv), mean velocity (Vm), resistance index (RI), and pulsatile index (PI) in the study group were significantly different from those of the control group (p < 0.05); There was also no significant difference between the two groups before and 1 day after the operation (p > 0.05), neither was there a significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Fufang xueshuantong capsule is effective in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, and significantly improves ophthalmic artery hemodynamics. Further clinical trials, however, are required for the validation of the findings of this study.