Structural Changes of the Retina after Conventional Laser Photocoagulation and Selective Retina Treatment (SRT) in Spectral Domain OCT

Abstract

Spectral domain OCT can be used clinically to follow the development of laser-induced lesions over time. Postoperative RPE proliferation was observed in both CRL and SRT laser lesions. RPE atrophy appeared subsequently only in CRL lesions, whereas the neurosensory retina appeared unaffected following SRT. These results suggest the selective effect of SRT in humans without causing adverse effects to the neurosensory retina.

Comment and Reply on: Structural Changes of the Retina after Laser Photocoagulation in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

“…1 Our work has shown that shorter pulse duration laser can achieve similar FD-OCT appearances in vivo, as compared to SRT. Contemporary argon laser systems available to ophthalmologists, as well as the Pascal ® , have in-built interfaces with medium pulse duration settings that have been shown to achieve effective and safe laser treatments.…”

“…1 However, we wish to comment on other recent work that has described key findings in relation to laser-tissue interaction in laser burns.…”

“…However, Paulus et al have recently described the localization of medium-pulse duration laser lesions in outer retina, and proposed that migration of photoreceptors from unaffected areas may fill-in the gap in the photoreceptors layer. 5 Framme et al 1 compared the selective retina technique (SRT) to long-pulse 100 ms laser photocoagulation, and found significant differences in SD-OCT laser burn appearances. Current laser parameters use reduced pulse duration, and it would be more relevant to compare the SRT with 50 ms or shorter pulses as conventional laser parameters.…”

Response to Stanga et al.: Structural Changes of the Retina after Laser Photocoagulation in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

“…This is clearly stated in the title of the paper. 1 It was not the aim of the paper to use OCT to 1.…”

“…However, in daily clinical practice, often the extent of conventional laser photocoagulation does reach up to the inner retinal layers as also shown in our publication. 1 When comparing the SRT lesions in SD-OCT, 4.…”