LONG-TERM VISUAL RESULTS AFTER LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION FOR DIABETIC MACULOPATHY

A study was performed to determine the long-term visual results after laser photocoagulation in diabetic maculopathy. One hundred and four eyes of 56 diabetic patients underwent modified grid laser photocoagulation for diabetic maculopathy according to the protocol of the European Study Group on Diabetic Eye Complications and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. Follow-up ranged from 12 months to 2.5 years. Eyes with visual acuity less than 0.2 before treatment were included in group A, those with visual aquity of 0.3-0.6 in group B and eyes with visual acuity more than 0.7 were included in group C. At 1 year, 79.4% of the eyes of group A improved or preserved their visual acuity, with 38.9% of group B and 88.2% of group C; at 2 years, 86.6% of group A, 30% of group B and 66.7% of group C and at 2.5 years 85.7% of group A, 27.3% of group B and 75% of group C improved or preserved their visual acuity. The percentages of positive results concerning the visual acuity for groups A and C were significantly greater compared with those for group B. These results suggest that modified grid laser photocoagulation for the management of diabetic maculopathy is an effective procedure in 'early treated' eyes (visual aquity greater than or equal to 0.7). It contributes to improve a little or to preserve low vision but it did not affect the natural course of disease in the rest of the eyes.