Micropulse in treatment of vascular genesis focal macular edema

Author: Marina Guro (Russian Federation)

Co-authors: Yuliia Khzardzhan, Alexander Balalin, Vera Potapova

Purpose

To assess the effectiveness of subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) in the treatment of focal macular edema with a height up to 500 μm against the background of diabetic retinopathy (DR) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Setting/Venue

S.N. FEDOROV NMRC "MNTK "EYE MICROSURGERY", Volgograd Branch

Methods

102 patients (102 eyes) with focal macular edema (ME) up to 500 μm were examined. 72 cases were against the background of DR, 30 cases – BRVO. Patients underwent SML treatment in the area of ME using randomly either 532 or 577 nm laser, if necessary, in combination with panretinal laser coagulation or threshold laser coagulation in ischemic zones extramacularly. Evaluation of the treatment effectiveness was carried out according to the dynamics of the retinal neuroepithelium using optical coherence tomography, the dynamics of the best corrected visual acuity and the change in the focal photosensitivity in the area of neuroepithelial edema.

Results

As a result of treatment, it was possible to achieve a statistically significant increase in the focal photosensitivity of the retina up to 26% (p<0.05) and a decrease in edema of the retinal neuroepithelium (NE) up to -15,9% (p<0.05) in both clinical groups (SML 532 and 577 nm).

Conlusions

The SML treatment of ME up to 500 μm against the background of DR or BRVO is effective and safe, it allows to significantly reduce the NE thickness in the area of edema and improve clinical and functional parameters, reliably increase the focal light sensitivity of the retina. Lasers with a wavelength of 532 and 577 nm have shown equal efficacy in the SML mode.

Financial Disclosure

none