Subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation for clinically significant diabetic macular oedema: a three‐year follow up

Abstract

This study has the longest follow up reported so far and demonstrating that subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation has a beneficial long-term effect on visual acuity and resolution of CSME with minimal chorio-retinal damage.

Retinal light toxicity

“…While this treatment has shown some early success in the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy, diabetic macular oedema, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion, further evaluation is needed. [61][62][63][64][65][66][67] …”

Long-Term Safety, High-Resolution Imaging, and Tissue Temperature Modeling of Subvisible Diode Micropulse Photocoagulation for Retinovascular Macular Edema

“…The persistently destructive nature of the treatment required continued application of conventional grid and modified ETDRS-style techniques. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] Recently, a new clinical approach to the use of the micropulsed 810-nm diode laser was reported, described as ''low-intensity/high-density'' subthreshold (subvisible) diode micropulse (SDM) photocoagulation. [44][45][46] In this approach, treatment of retinal vascular disease is performed with the express goal of avoiding any laserinduced retinal damage (''invisible'' photocoagulation).…”

“…[47][48][49] The previous studies describing SDM for DME report relatively brief mean follow-up periods of #1 year. [41][42][43][44][45][46] Recognizing the unconventional nature of SDM, the absence of laser-induced retinal lesions at 1 year may not necessarily preclude the possibility of latent retinal damage with associated adverse effects becoming manifest later. Therefore, in this study we 1) assess the long-term safety of SDM for the treatment of ME because of DME and branch retinal vein occlusion.…”

Indocyanine green enhanced subthreshold diode-laser micropulse photocoagulation treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

“…This fine control of laser photothermal effects may be of limited value for treatments seeking a visible burn endpoint, but it is very important to safely and consistently perform effective retina-sparing treatments with no intraoperative visible endpoint and, in most cases, with no ophthalmoscopic or angiographic signs of laser lesions at any time [42]. SDM photocoagulation in the treatment of CSC was reported with encouraging results and lack of complications SDM photocoagulation of ICG-stained RPE cells at the active leakage site is a protocol for the treatment of CSC devised for the purpose of enhancing RPE-selectivity, neurosensory retina sparing and of documenting the otherwise invisible laser applications.…”