Diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy: treatment with laser photocoagulation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of laser treatment in eyes with diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy (DRPE).


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 56 consecutive patients (78 eyes) with DRPE. All eyes were treated with digital fluorescein angiography guided argon green laser photocoagulation, direct on the focal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) leaks and in a grid pattern to the RPE decompensation areas. A processed digital red-free fundus image including all the important traces on it was used as a guide to the laser treatment. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 7 years.


RESULTS
At the end of the follow-up time, 70 (89.7%) eyes showed anatomic improvement with complete or partial resolution of the macular exudative lesions. Visual acuity of less than 20/40 was noted in 60 eyes (76.9%) preoperatively compared with 46 eyes (59.0%) finally (p=0.0252). The visual acuity was improved in 19 eyes (24.4%), stabilized in 51 (65.4%), and reduced in only 8 eyes (10.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
In this series of patients with DRPE, the results of laser treatment were uniformly satisfactory producing a gradual resolution of the macular exudative lesions and an improvement or stabilization of the visual acuity.
Ladas
I D
ID
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Athens University, Athens, Greece. ladas@ath.forthnet.gr
Rouvas
A A
AA
Apostolopoulos
M
M
Brouzas
D
D
Karagiannis
D A
DA
Georgalas
I
I
Baltatzis
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity