Purpose:
To evaluate outcomes of patients treated with the NAVILAS navigated laser photocoagulation system for treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods:
A retrospective review of patients who underwent laser focal photocoagulation treatment for diabetic macular edema with a navigated focal laser (argon) system, by a single-surgeon (RDJ).
Results:
13 eyes of 12 patients underwent focal laser surgery for clinically significant parafoveal diabetic macular edema. Follow-up was 3 months for all patients. Mean patient age was 69.2 years. Mean pre-treatment logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (LogMAR VA) was 0.54 (20/70) with a range of 0.3 - 1.0 (20/40 - 20/200). Mean post-treatment LogMAR VA at 3 months was 0.31 (20/40) with a range of 0.18 - 0.6 (20/30 to 20/80), a statistically significant improvement (p<0.005). Mean macular thickness on Spectralis OCT was 375.5 microns pre-treatment and 290.2 microns at 3 months post-treatment, a statistically significant improvement (p<0.005).
Conclusions:
Navigated focal laser photocoagulation can lead to a decrease in macular edema in DME as well as improvements in visual acuity. Further studies are warranted to investigate long-term visual acuity and macular thickness on OCT post-treatment.
Keywords: laser • diabetic retinopathy • retina