title: Subthreshold and micropulse diode laser photocoagulation.
abstract: Retinal laser photocoagulation is a proven, effective treatment for various retinal disorders. Common clinical protocols use intra-operatively visible endpoints that cause iatrogenic chorioretinal damage. For this reason, laser therapy is normally limited to levels of disease severity for which the benefit-to-risk ratio justifies its application. The use of 810 nm diode lasers in the MicroPulse mode offers the surgeon the possibility to minimize iatrogenic retinal damage. A less destructive laser therapy with a more favorable benefit-to-risk ratio could justify treatment earlier in the course of the disease, allowing for stabilization or improvement of less compromised visual functions.
authors.affiliation: IRIDEX Corporation, Mountain View, CA 94043-1824, USA. gdorin@iridex.com
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dorin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013696:Temperature; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013997:Time Factors