Abstract
Purpose :
To present functional and anatomical outcomes in the third year of follow-up of 42 eyes of 37 patients that presented with CSDME and were treated with subthreshold micropulse 577 nm laser photostimulation.
Methods :
Consecutive case series of patients that presented from November 2013 through November 2016. As in the first report (ARVO 2016-Poster Number 3248-C0048) patients were divided into two groups: a) with central macular thickness (CMT) ≤ 400 μm (24 patients) and b) with CMT >400 μm (13 patients) at baseline. Laser photostimulation was performed with a 577 nm laser in the micropulse delivery mode in a sub-visible-threshold manner, with no signs of laser impacts discernable during treatment and at any time post-operatively. Measurable outcome variables were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CMT. Mean follow-up was 30 months (24-36 mo)
Results :
During the third year only five patients didn’t complete the follow-up with respect to the second year. Three patients were shifted to intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment, two were lost to follow-up. The mean BCVA in the group with CMT <400 um was 0.56 ± 0.17 before treatment and 0.66 ± 0.19 after treatment. Mean CMT before treatment was 324.6 ± 49.7 um and 277.87 ± 69.4 um after treatment. Considering visual acuity outcomes, in this group 1 eye had a gain of more than 15 letters, 7 eyes had a gain of more than 10 letters, 7 eyes had a gain of 5 letters, 13 eyes were stable, 2 eyes had a loss of more than 5 letters, none more than 10 letters. The mean BCVA in the group with CMT >400 um was 0.44 ± 0.17 before treatment and 0.58 ± 0.25 after treatment. Mean CMT was 447.9 ± 31 um before treatment and 310.25 ± 61.56 um after treatment. Considering visual acuity outcomes in this group, 3 eyes had a mean gain of more than 15 letters, 7 eyes of more than 10 letters, 3 eyes had a gain of 5 letters, 2 eyes remained stable, 3 eyes had a loss of more than 5 letters, none more than 10 letters.
Conclusions :
Laser photostimulation monotherapy using the 577 nm yellow laser in the micropulse emission mode maintains its efficacy in stabilizing / improving BCVA and in reducing / eliminating DME for most of the patients that remained in the study. Even in the third year, there is no concern about safety.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.