Changes in the zinc and copper metabolism after panretinal photocoagulation in the rabbit.

In a previous work on a group of patients with diabetic retinopathy, the effect of laser photocoagulation on the serum zinc and copper levels was evaluated. In many of those patients, an increase in the serum zinc and copper levels was found one day after the laser treatment. In the present work, changes in the serum concentration of these metals after xenon arc photocoagulation were assessed in the rabbit. A significant rise was found one day after the treatment in the level of serum copper (P less than .005), and one week thereafter in the level of serum zinc (P less than .005). The significance of these results and their connection to the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid is discussed.