Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the long-term effects of subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation (SMDLP) for diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods: :
Twenty-one eyes of 18 patients with diffuse DME were treated with SMDLP. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR units and the optical coherence tomography (OCT)-determined foveal thickness (FT) were determined before, and 3, 6, and 12 months after the SMDLP. The pretreatment values of FT, BCVA, and funduscopic findings were compared to the corresponding values at 3, 6, and 12 months after SMDLP.
Results: :
The FT was 505.1±72.1 µm preoperatively, 408.8±163.6 µm at 3 months (P=0.004), 304.1±116.2 µm at 6 months (P=0.006), and 281.3 ±122.6 µm at 12 months (P=0.002). At 12 months, the FT was reduced in 71% of the treated eyes. The BCVA was 0.54±0.25 preoperatively, 0.53±0.35 at 3 months (P=0.3), 0.42±0.31 at 6 months (P=0.3), and 0.39±0.36 at 12 months (P=0.2). The BCVA was not significantly improved, but was maintained in 76% of the treated eyes for 12 months after the SMDLP. Laser scarring was not observed in any eye during the follow-up examinations.
Conclusions: :
SMDLP had a beneficial effect on DME for long-time period. Further prospective studies are needed to fully evaluate this technique.
Keywords: diabetes • edema • macula/fovea