Pain perception at laser treatment of peripheral retinal degenerations with green and infrared wavelengths.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the pain perception at laser treatment of peripheral retinal degenerations with green (532-nm) and infrared (810-nm) wavelengths.


METHODS
Prospective randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Sequential patients with indications for photocoagulation of bilateral peripheral retinal degenerations were invited to participate in the study. Thirty patients (60 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Each patient had 1 eye treated with infrared laser (diode, 810-nm wavelength) and the other eye treated with green laser (frequency-doubled solid-state laser, diode-pumped, with 532-nm wavelength). The eyes were randomized to infrared or green wavelengths. The right eye was the first treated in all cases regardless of the wavelength arrangement. Immediately after photocoagulation of each eye, the patient was asked to grade pain perception according to an 11-point (ie, 0-10) numerical rating scale (NRS), with 0 meaning "No pain" and 10 meaning "Pain as bad as you can imagine." The primary outcome was the assessment of pain.


RESULTS
The mean grading of pain perception was 2.80 (SD 1.27; mode and median = 2) to green wavelengths and 5.07 (SD 1.36; mode = 4 and median = 5) to infrared wavelengths (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed a statistically and clinically significant difference of pain perception between the 2 groups, with advantage to the green laser group.
Lira
Rodrigo Pessoa Cavalcanti
RP
State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Recife, Brazil. rodrigopclira@hotmail.com
Nascimento
Mauricio Abujamra
MA
Arieta
Carlos Eduardo Leite
CE
de Carvalho
Keila Miriam Monteiro
KM
Silva
Valdir Balarin
VB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult