Peripheral Scatter Treatment in Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) has been known to be beneficial in preventing severe visual loss from diabetic retinopathy. Clinical effects of peripheral scatter treatment on diabetic retinopathies were compared with those of PRP in 40 eyes of each groups. In peripheral scatter treatment, equatorial and peripheral fundus was treated with argon blue-green laser or krypton red laser, in 2 sessions with interval of one week. The incidence of maculopathy causing decrease in visual acuity after laser treatment was higher in PRP-treated group than in peripheral scatter treatment group, but changes in visual acuity and fundus findings at last follow-up were not significantly different between PRP-treated and peripheral scatter treatment group (p>O.05). Peripheral scatter treatment was equally affective as PRP in treating diabetic retinopathy with less amount of laser bums and saving post-equatorial fundus.