Subthreshold Laser and Subliminal (Micropulse) Laser in Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the main causes of a significant reduction in visual acuity in working-age adults and is the most common cause of visual acuity loss from diabetic retinopathy. Most of the studies have shown that the ability of the conventional laser to maintain or improve visual acuity is limited, possibly because of the development of retinal scars, which decrease the potential for improved visual acuity. Subthreshold laser and subliminal (micropulse) laser has the potential to reduce DME with better visual acuity results compared with conventional laser, as it does not cause collateral damage in the retina. These lasers cannot cause permanent damage to the retina. This article mentions subthreshold laser, and subliminal (micropulse) laser in diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 251584142097911
Author(s):  
Diego Alejandro Valera-Cornejo ◽  
Marlon García-Roa ◽  
Jaime Quiroz-Mendoza ◽  
Alejandro Arias-Gómez ◽  
Paulina Ramírez-Neria ◽  
...  

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe visual and anatomic outcomes of 5774nm micropulse laser photocoagulation in eyes with either treatment-naïve or refractory diabetic macular edema (DME) at 3 months. Methods: This was a prospective case series that recruited 23 consecutive patients (33 eyes) with center-involved DME that was either treatment-naïve or had not responded to prior treatment. Micropulse therapy was performed with the Easy Ret 577 (Quantel Medical, Cournon d’Auvergne, France) diode laser in a high-density manner in eyes with treatment-naïve or refractory DME. The primary outcome was the change of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; logMAR) at 1 and 3 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in the central macular thickness (CMT), thickness area, macular volume, and macular capillary leakage at 1 and 3 months. Results: There were no significant changes in BCVA at 3 months, with mean ± standard deviation (SD) of −0.08 ± 0.01 ( p = 0.228) and + 0.01 ± 0.01 ( p = 0.969) for treatment-naïve and refractory groups, respectively. The change in CMT at 3 months was statistically but not clinically significant in the treatment-naïve group only (mean ± SD; –30 ± 130 µm; p = 0.011). The macular volume and area thickness change were not statistically significant ( p = 0.173 and p = 0.148 for macular volume and area thickness, respectively) in the treatment-naïve group. There was no difference concerning the leakage area in both groups. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: We concluded that micropulse 577nm laser therapy maintained the visual acuity and macular thickness at 3 months in both treatment-naïve and refractory DME.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atul Jain ◽  
Neeta Varshney ◽  
Colin Smith

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults, and diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most common cause of visual impairment in individuals with DR. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, previous treatment paradigms, and emerging treatment options in the management of DME.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Chieh Hsieh ◽  
Chieh-Yin Cheng ◽  
Kun-Hsien Li ◽  
Chih-Chun Chuang ◽  
Jian-Sheng Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract The purpose of this retrospective interventional case series is to compare the functional and anatomical outcomes in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) treated intravitreally with aflibercept or ranibizumab under the Taiwan National Insurance Bureau reimbursement policy. 84 eyes were collected and all eyes were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), color fundus photographs (CFPs), and fluorescein angiography (FA). At 24 months after therapy initiation, the logMAR BCVA improved from 0.58 ± 0.33 to 0.47 ± 0.38 (p < 0.01), the CRT decreased from 423.92 ± 135.84 to 316.36 ± 90.02 (p < 0.01), and the number of microaneurysms decreased from 142.14 ± 57.23 to 75.32 ± 43.86 (p < 0.01). The mean injection count was 11.59 ± 6.54. There was no intergroup difference in logMAR BCVA (p = 0.96), CRT (p = 0.69), or injection count (p = 0.81). However, the mean number of microaneurysms was marginally reduced (p = 0.06) in eyes treated with aflibercept at the end of the follow-up, and the incidence rates of supplementary panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) (p = 0.04) and subthreshold micropulse laser (SMPL) therapy sessions (p = 0.01) were also reduced. Multivariate analysis revealed that only initial logMAR BCVA influenced the final VA improvements (odds ratio (OR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21 ~ 0.93, p < 0.01); in contrast, age (OR -0.38, 95% CI -6.97~-1.85, p < 0.01) and initial CRT (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34 ~ 0.84, p < 0.01) both influenced the final CRT reduction at 24 months. To sum up, both aflibercept and ranibizumab are effective in managing DME with PDR in terms of VA, CRT and MA count. Eyes receiving aflibercept required less supplementary PRP and SMPL treatment than those receiving ranibizumab. The initial VA influenced the final VA improvements at 24 months, while age and initial CRT were prognostic predictors of 24-month CRT reduction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Fariba Ghassemi ◽  
Abdulrahim Amini ◽  
Masoud Yasemi ◽  
Amin Nabavi ◽  
Mohammadkarim Johari

Introduction. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of visual loss and blindness in the age group of 20 to 64 years. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral Losartan adjuvant therapy in combination with intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab in the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Methods. In this randomized clinical trial, 61 eyes of 47 patients with normal blood pressure and diabetic macular edema and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy were studied. Patients were randomly divided into Losartan (n = 33) and control (n = 28) groups. All patients received 3–6 intravitreal injections of Bevacizumab over 6 months. General examination including blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin measurements were performed in all patients. Complete ophthalmologic examination and macular OCT were performed at the first, third, and sixth months of treatment in all patients. Results. The mean age of the patients studied was 57.1 ± 7.4 years and 37.7% of the patients were male. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of initial visual acuity, central macular thickness, and frequency of injections. There was no significant difference in visual acuity and central macular thickness between the two groups at the first, third, and sixth months of treatment. Age, frequency of injection, and initial macular thickness less than 450 microns were effective in patients’ final visual acuity. Conclusion. Short-term adjuvant treatment with Losartan in patients with diabetic macular edema and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy has no greater effect than the standard treatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 534-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwaranti Akiyode ◽  
Jateh Major ◽  
Abiola Ojo

Aflibercept is the most recently approved vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) inhibitor for the management of diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this article is to review the efficacy and safety of aflibercept in the management of diabetic eye complications and to describe its place in therapy. Anti-VEGF agents have been noted in clinical trials to be superior to laser photocoagulation, the standard therapy ( P < .0001, P ≤ .0085, respectively). Aflibercept has been comparatively studied with other anti-VEGF agents, namely, bevacizumab and ranibizumab, and noted to be equally efficacious and safe in patients with mild visual acuity loss ( P > .50). However, in the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema having moderate to severe visual acuity loss, aflibercept outperformed the other 2 anti-VEGF agents (aflibercept vs bevacizumab, P < .001; aflibercept vs ranibizumab, P = .003). However, additional studies are needed to fully appreciate the long-term safety and efficacy of aflibercept and the anti-VEGF therapy class.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Gonder ◽  
Valery M. Walker ◽  
Martin Barbeau ◽  
Nancy Zaour ◽  
Bryan H. Zachau ◽  
...  

Purpose. To characterize the economic and quality of life burden of diabetic macular edema (DME) in Canadian patients.Patients and Methods. 145 patients with DME were followed for 6 months with monthly telephone interviews and medical chart reviews at months 0, 3, and 6. Visual acuity in the worst-seeing eye was assessed at months 0 and 6. DME-related healthcare costs were determined over 6 months, and vision-related (National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire) and generic (EQ-5D) quality of life was assessed at months 0, 3, and 6.Results. Mean age of patients was 63.7 years: 52% were male and 72% had bilateral DME. At baseline, visual acuity was categorized as normal/mild loss for 63.4% of patients, moderate loss for 10.4%, and severe loss/nearly blind for 26.2%. Mean 6-month DME-related costs/patient were as follows: all patients (n=135), $2,092; normal/mild loss (n=88), $1,776; moderate loss (n=13), $1,845; and severe loss/nearly blind (n=34), $3,007. Composite scores for vision-related quality of life declined with increasing visual acuity loss; generic quality of life scores were highest for moderate loss and lowest for severe loss/nearly blind.Conclusions. DME-related costs in the Canadian healthcare system are substantial. Costs increased and vision-related quality of life declined with increasing visual acuity severity.


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