title: Clinical experience with the laser indirect ophthalmoscope.
abstract: Laser delivery through a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope is a relatively recent addition to the armamentarium in vitreoretinal work. Hitherto to our experience, it had not been used in this region. This paper documents our initial experience with a laser indirect ophthalmoscope used successfully in the retinal photocoagulation of patients with diabetic retinopathy, venous occlusions, peripheral retinal holes and lattice degenerations and in post-vitrectomy cases. We found that this mode of laser delivery offered the advantages of an increased field of view of the retina, improved access to the retinal periphery and better patient comfort. It enabled laser treatment of patients with physical or mental handicaps who are unable to sit at the slit-lamp. It is the first system that can deliver laser treatment to patients in the pediatric age-group. It may also be valuable in Stage III retinopathy of prematurity, Coats disease, pneumatic retinopexy, and anterior hyaloidal neovascular proliferations. The chief drawback with this system are the lower magnification and sensitivity to inadvertent movement by the patient or surgeon. We concluded that this mode of laser delivery is a useful adjunct to the slit lamp system and can in some cases be the preferred mode of laser therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008028:Light Coagulation; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000601:surgery; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000601:surgery; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery