Abstract
Purpose:
To assess the efficacy and safety of subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion.
Methods:
Single center, retrospective, nonrandomized interventional case series Patients : 34 consecutive retinal vein occlusion patients (34 eyes) with clinically significant ME and a central macular thickness (CMT) < 500 micron by optical coherence tomography. Observation procedures : Subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation (577 nm) was done with a 15% duty cycle (0.2 sec; 100 micron) at the burn threshold energy. The treated area was monitored on color images for 12 months. Main outcome measures: CMT and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Results:
After 12 months, there was a significant reduction of CMT (P = 0.31, paired t test), but the changes of BCVA was not significant. The preoperative CMT and BCVA (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution; logMAR) were 314.29 um and 0.334 respectively, vs 284.91 um and 0.310 at 3 months. Visual acuity was improved or maintained within 0.2 logMAR for 12 months in 90.9% of the patients. No obvious laser scars were detected in any patient.
Conclusions:
In patients with moderate ME secondary to RVO, subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation controls ME and maintains visual acuity with minimal retinal damage. These findings prove the efficacy of this method for Korean patients.
Keywords: 585 macula/fovea •
578 laser •
749 vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease