Subthreshold micropulse photocoagulation with true yellow 577nm diode laser for macular oedema

Purpose Subthreshold, or tissue sparing, Diode Micropulse Photocoagualtion (SDM) is a treatment used to produce a therapeutic effect without inducing detectable intraretinal damage. Actually treatment options are available for diabetic macular edema (DME), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR), macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and even glaucoma. Methods We used micropulse technology with 577nm yellow diode laser to produce a therapeutic effect without inducing intraretinal damage detectable on clinical examination during or after the treatment. All patients were affected by clinically significative macular edema (CSME) due to diabetic retinopathy, venous branch retinal occlusion and central serous retinopathy. Results Controls prefomed at 1, 3 and 6 months showed no detectable retinal scars in any case. Foveal thickness decreased in all patients, visual acuity remained stable (<10 ETDRS letters) or improved (≥10 ETDRS letters). Conclusion The results of our study indicate that, in the treatment of CSME due to PDR, BRVO and CSR,SDM photocoagulation is at least as effective as conventional photocoagulation without any clinically discernible evidence of laser-induced iatrogenic damage.