Abstract
Purpose: :
To describe the clinical outcomes using low-fluence panretinal photocoagulation in a single session for severe non proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)
Methods: :
Prospective, non-comparative, interventional case series. Patients with severe non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, with or without macular edema, older than 18 years, with clear media were included. A complete ophthalmologic examination including ETDRS best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD-OCT, Zeiss, Germany) were performed at baseline and at 1 and 3 months. Elegible eyes were treated with panretinal photocoagulation delivered in one session using low-fluence parameters (exposure of 20 msec, spot size of 400 microns, and enough power to cause a greyish-white burn) and a standard 532 nm laser.
Results: :
Twenty-two eyes of 13 patients were included. Mean age was 52.46 years (28-74y), 4 male and 9 female. BCVA before treatment was 59.5 letters, and 57.36 letters after treatment; macular volume measured by OCT before treatment was 7.13 mm3, and after treatment was 7.07 mm3. Power used ranged from 250 to 350 mW. The mean number of burns per session was 2963.36. Regression of neovascularization was observed in all eyes with PDR after a six week follow up period. No complications were observed with this treatment modality.
Conclusions: :
Our small series shows that low-fluence panretinal photocoagulation in a single session may be an option as a treatment for severe nonproliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Further studies must be performed in order to demonstrate its effectiveness in a longer follow up and comparing this treatment with the standard procedure.
Clinical Trial: :
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01023698
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • laser