A research team from Shenzhen Eye Hospital (Jinan University) and Robotrak Technologies' AOL has published groundbreaking findings on laser - induced retinopathy (LIR) in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

With the increasing prevalence of LIR due to widespread high - power laser use, the study aimed to clarify its structural - functional relationship. The cohort study involved 13 LIR patients (15 eyes) and 38 healthy volunteers (38 eyes), examined with AO - SLO, MP, and spectral - domain OCT.

The results showed LIR lesions in AO - SLO had hyporeflective areas (suggesting cone loss) and hyperreflective material. LIR eyes had significantly reduced cone density, increased dispersion, and decreased regularity at 3° eccentricity (P<0.05). Lesion size in AO - SLO correlated positively with EZ defects in OCT (r=0.84, P<0.001), but neither lesion size nor cone density correlated with retinal sensitivities (P=0.09 and P=0.13 respectively).

This first - of - its - kind study quantifying LIR - related cone cell changes offers insights into its pathogenesis. It also reveals a structural - functional discrepancy, highlighting the need for more research, especially longitudinal studies and inclusion of severe cases. The research emphasizes the importance of advanced imaging in LIR evaluation and the need for public awareness and prevention.