Argon Laser Photocoagulation of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 79-104
Author(s):  
HUNTER L. LITTLE
Author(s):  
Alan D. Penman ◽  
Kimberly W. Crowder ◽  
William M. Watkins

The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) was a randomized clinical trial involving nearly four thousand diabetic patients with early proliferative retinopathy, moderate to severe nonproliferative retinopathy, and/or diabetic macular edema in each eye. This paper (ETDRS report number 1) describes the findings in the subgroup of eyes in the ETDRS that were identified as having mild to moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. The analysis showed that immediate focal argon laser photocoagulation of “clinically significant” diabetic macular edema substantially reduced the risk of visual loss, increased the chance of visual improvement, decreased the frequency of persistent macular edema, and caused only minor visual field losses. The authors recommended immediate focal argon laser photocoagulation for all eyes with clinically significant macular edema and mild or moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, regardless of the level of visual acuity.


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