Eyecare Topics

J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2004 Apr;22(2):91-7. Venkatesh P, Gupta RK, Verma L, Tewari HK. SourceRajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and short-term visual and fluorescein angiographic effects of trans-scleral diode laser photocoagulation in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization from age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). BACKGROUND DATA: The visual outcome following treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in ARMD is still unsatisfactory. Various forms of therapy such as laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, and surgical excision have been tried with variable results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with subfoveal choroidal neo-vascularization were treated with trans-scleral diode laser using the diopexy probe under indirect ophthalmoscopic visualization and followed up at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Standardized...

Subthreshold diode micropulse (SDM) laser photocoagulation was found to be effective for chronic idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) with juxtafoveal point source leakage according to a new research study. CSCR is characterized by the accumulation of subretinal fluid (SRF) at the macula and is a common condition in young adults, especially in men with a so-called type A personality. Although CSCR generally is considered a self-limiting and benign condition, some patients may experience significant visual impairment caused by recurrent attacks of CSCR, persistent chronic neurosensory retinal detachment, or RPE atrophy. Most episodes of CSCR usually resolve spontaneously within 3 to 4 months. Traditional management has been observation alone. Laser photocoagulation and pharmacological agents have been attempted for treating CSCR. These treatment options serve only to shorten the duration of symptoms and have no effect on the recurrence rate or the final visual acuity. Tra...

Subthreshold Micropulse Laser Therapy for Retinal Disorders By Christine Kiire, MD; Sobha Sivaprasad, MD; and Victor Chong, MD ShareE-mailPrint Subthreshold, or tissue-sparing, laser therapy is a subject of interest to retinal specialists worldwide. Today, micropulse technology with 810 nm and 577 nm lasers is used to produce a therapeutic treatment without inducing intraretinal damage detectable on clinical examination during or after treatment. The controlled laser delivery of micropulse technology affords treatment options for diabetic macular edema(DME), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), central erous chorio retinopathy (CSR), macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and even glaucoma. This review will explain micropulse technology and focus on its benefits and challenges in the treatment of retinal disorders. BACKGROUND Since its inception, retinal photocoagulation has become more refined, effective, and safe. It has become the first line of treatme...

Diabetic macular edema: Swelling of the retina in diabetes mellitus due to leaking of fluid from blood vessels within the macula. The macula is the central portion of the retina, a small area rich in cones, the specialized nerve endings that detect color and upon which daytime vision depends. As macular edema develops, blurring occurs in the middle or just to the side of the central visual field. Visual loss from diabetic macular edema can progress over a period of months and make it impossible to focus clearly. Macular edema in common in diabetes. The lifetime risk for diabetics to develop macular edema is about 10%. The condition is closely associated with the degree of diabetic retinopathy (retinal disease). Hypertension (high blood pressure) and fluid retention also increase the hydrostatic pressure within capillaries which drives fluid from within the vessels into the retina. A common cause of fluid retention in diabetes is kidney disease with loss of protein in the urine (protein...

J Fr Ophtalmol. 1998 Aug-Sep;21(7):495-500. [Retinal detachment following YAG laser section of vitreous strands. Apropos of 3 cases] Benhamou N, Glacet-Bernard A, Le Mer Y, Quentel G, Perrenoud F, Coscas G, Soubrane G. Clinique Ophtalmologique Universitaire de Créteil. Abstract PURPOSE: Retinal detachment after Nd: YAG laser vitreolysis is rarely reported. The pathogenic role of Nd: YAG laser is analyzed from 3 cases of severe retinal detachment. METHODS: Three men aged (40 to 59 years old) had one or more risk factors for retinal detachment: myopia, complicated cataract surgery, personal or family history of retinal detachment. Nd: YAG laser treatment onto vitreous strand was performed because of: retinal traction, repeated vitreous hemorrhage, anterior vitreous strand in a aphakic patient with cystoid macular edema. Within six weeks following Nd: YAG laser vitreolysis, severe retinal detachment with several tears occurred, complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy in two patie...