The effect of short versus long exposure times of argon laser panretinal photocoagulation on proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
We performed a randomized clinical trial comparing short-duration (0.1 s) with long-duration (0.5 s) blue-green argon laser burns to deliver panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in eyes suffering from proliferative diabetic retinopathy with high risk characteristics. We studied 19 eyes in the 0.1-s group and 24 eyes in the 0.5-s group for 6 months. Two or more lines of acuity were lost by 20% of the 0.1-s PRP eyes, but by only 8% of the 0.5-s PRP eyes; New or increased vitreous hemorrhages occurred in 30% of the 0.1-s PRP eyes, but in only 16% of the 0.5-s PRP eyes; New or increased traction retinal detachments did not occur in the 0.1-s PRP eyes, but occurred in 16% of the 0.5-s PRP eyes. There was complete disc neovascular regression in 85% of the 0.1-s PRP eyes and 81% of the 0.5-s PRP eyes. These trends were not statistically significant.
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001128:Argon; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology
D001128:Argon