Initial Experience with Transpupillary Diode Laser Photocoagulation for Retinal Diseases

Abstract

Background: Lasers are an invaluable treatment modality for the management of some retinovascular diseases. One of these lasers is the diode laser which is easy to procure and maintain. Aim: To review the outcomes of diode laser photocoagulation in patients with a variety of retinal conditions. Patients and Methods: A retrospective case series of all patients who had retinal laser photocoagulation between July 2012 and June 2014 with the semiconductor infrared diode laser was performed. Demographic and clinical data collected included age, sex, eye involved, visual acuity, diagnosis, associated systemic and ocular diseases, intra and post treatmentfindings, laser treatment parameters and follow up. Results: A total of 22 eyes of 15 patients had diode laser treatment during the period under review comprising 8(53.3%) males and 7(46.7%) females with a mean age at presentation of 53.4183 years. The indications for treatment were proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 18(81.8%) eyes of 11 patients, retinal vein occlusion in 2(9.1%) eyes of 2 patients and retinal breaks with lattice in 2(9.1%) eyes of 2 patients with fellow eye retinal detachment. Visual acuity in eyes with diabetic retinopathy improved in 9(5O%) eyes, worsened in 3(16.7%) eyes and was unchanged/stable in 6(33.3%) eyes. Regression of neovascularization was achieved in 2(100%) eyes with retinal vein occlusion. The retina of the 2(100%) eyes with breaks following retinopexy remained attached during the follow up period. The follow up period ranged from 2 days to 2 years with a mean duration of 13.51-15.8 months. Conclusion: The diode laser is an effective and beneficial treatment modality in the management of proliferative retinopathies and some retinal diseases.