Three year results of prophylactic laser treatment to fellow eyes of unilateral retinal pigment epithelial tears

M. Gross-Jendroska, S. L. Owens, C. J. Flaxel, R. H. Guymer, A. C. Bird

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose. To reduce the high risk of visual loss in the fellow eye of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who suffered a tear of the retinal pigment epithelium in their first eye ( Schoeppner et al.: Am J Ophthalmol. 1989;108:683-685) prophylactic laser treatment was applied to the posterior pole. Methods. Twelve patients with a tear of the retinal pigment epithelium due to AMD received prophylactic laser treatment to their fellow eye. All patients were followed for two years, ten patients were followed for three years. Treatment consisted of twelve Argon green laser burns that were placed 600 jam to 1000 urn away from the fovea. With a spot size of 200 jam at 0.2 sec the lowest possible intensity to achieve a very faint burn was used. Results. Loss of vision was defined as a reduction to 20/80 or less in the treated fellow eye. It was reduced from 37% to 8% in the first year, from 59% to 26% in the second year, and from 80% to 30% in the third year when compared to the natural history data. Conclusion: Low intensity laser treatment of the macular region seems to reduce the high risk of visual loss in the fellow eye of patients with a unilateral retinal pigment epithelial tear due to AMD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)S94
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume38
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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