Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate demarcation laser photocoagulation (DLP) for macula-sparing rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) with and without symptoms of posterior vitreous separation or progressive visual field defect.
Methods: :
Retrospective, interventional, single surgeon case series of consecutive patients with RRD treated with demarcation laser photocoagulation between March 1999 and February 2008 at an academic center. The null hypothesis was that there exists no difference in the rate of progression for retinal detachment irrespective of the presence (‘symptomatic’) or absence (‘asymptomatic’) of symptoms of posterior vitreous separation or visual field defect at presentation.
Results: :
27 eyes of 26 patients were included in the study. Twenty-two of the 27 eyes (81.4%) did not require additional treatment and remained attached during mean follow-up of 38.4 months. None of the 14 asymptomatic patients required surgery (0%) while five of the 13 patients (38.5%) who were symptomatic at presentation required intervention (p=0.016): 1 patient required additional laser only and 4 patients required surgery. Pre- and post- DLP logMAR visual acuity was 0.15 and 0.14, respectively.
Keywords: laser • retinal detachment • vitreoretinal surgery