Abstract
Purpose: :
To demonstrate the efficacy of the PASCAL® photocoagulation laser system (OptiMedica, Santa Clara, CA, USA) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Methods: :
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 52 patients (52 eyes) who underwent a panretinal photocoagulation using the PASCAL® laser system from January 2008 to October 2008. They were included only when diagnosed as proliferative retinopathy without previous laser treatment. Outcomes measured included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment, efficacy of laser treatment analyzing fluorescein angiography in 12 months after the treatment, and complications.
Results: :
BCVA before the treatment was 0.60 ± 0.51 and BCVA after 1 year was 0.45 ± 0.36. 35 % of the patients (18/52) showed no regression or progression of new vessels in fluorescein angiography (FAG) when compared with the findings of the pre-treatment FAG. 38% of them (20/52) showed partial regression of new vessels and only 27% of them showed complete regression. The more the extent of of new vessels in disc and peripheral retina was increased, the more the extent of regression was decreased. Two cases of acute angle closure glaucoma were included as the complications of the PASCAL® laser.
Conclusions: :
Retinal photocoagulation by the PASCAL® laser didn’t have comparable efficacy to historical results with conventional retinal photocoagulation in long-term follow-up. Further investigation may be needed to confirm our results about the PASCAL® laser.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • retinal neovascularization