title: Subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema in Japanese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema (ME).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six consecutive diabetic patients (43 eyes) with clinically significant ME and a central macular thickness (CMT) <600 microm by optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation was done with a 15% duty cycle (0.2 to 0.3 sec; 200 microm) at 50% to 90% of the burn threshold energy. The treated area was monitored on color images for 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  CMT, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and total macular volume at 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 months, there was a significant reduction of CMT (P = .05, paired t test), but the changes of BCVA and macular volume were not significant. The preoperative CMT, BCVA (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution; logMAR), and macular volume were 341.8 +/- 119.0 microm, 0.12 +/- 0.20, and 8.763 +/- 1.605 mm(3) respectively, vs 300.7 +/- 124.1 microm, 0.12 +/- 0.21, and 8.636 +/- 1.408 mm(3) at 3 months. CMT decreased significantly from 1 month (P = .015, Friedman test). Visual acuity was improved or maintained within 0.2 logMAR for 12 months in 94.7% of the patients. No obvious laser scars were detected in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with moderate diabetic ME, subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation controls ME and maintains visual acuity with minimal retinal damage. These findings confirm the efficacy of this method for Japanese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, St Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. kishiohk@luke.or.jp
authors.forename: Kishiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohkoshi
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology