Abstract
Purpose :
To present functional and anatomical outcomes in the fourth year of follow-up of 33 eyes of 30 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 2017. 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 (19 patients) and b) with CMT >400 μm (11 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 36 months (30-42 mo).
Results :
During the fourth year twelve patients didn’t complete the follow-up with respect to the third year. Three patients were shifted to intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment, four patients received steroid injection, three were lost to follow-up and two patients died. The mean BCVA in the group with CMT <400 um was 0.55 ± 0.17 before treatment and 0.67 ± 0.24 after treatment. Mean CMT before treatment was 327.3 ± 38.6 um and 291.87 ± 53.5 um after treatment. The mean BCVA in the group with CMT >400 um was 0.47 ± 0.19 before treatment and 0.64 ± 0.34 after treatment. Mean CMT was 443.5 ± 26.2 um before treatment and 281.00 ± 39.3 um after treatment.
Conclusions :
In the fourth year of follow-up 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 in almost 30% of the patients with respect to the number of patients initially enrolled. Even in the fourth year, there is no concern about safety.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.