Comparison of the Time Required for Panretinal Photocoagulation and Associated Pain between Navilas(R) and Conventional Laser Therapy in Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the pain scale and time necessary for panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) between Navilas(R) (OD-OS, Teltow, Germany) and conventional laser in diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Fifteen patients who required PRP for diabetic retinopathy were enrolled in the present study. PRP was performed using Navilas(R) (5 x 5 array patterned system) in the superior, nasal and inferior areas, and using conventional laser at the temporal area 1 week later. Total time of laser application and number of laser shots were counted for calculating required time per 100 spots of each laser system. Immediately after the laser photocoagulation, patients were asked to quantify their pain on a visual analog pain scale (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain). RESULTS: PRP using Navilas(R) required shorter time per 100 laser spots (27.7 sec vs. 102.0 sec, p < 0.001) and subjects had lower treatment-related pain than with the conventional laser system (3.3 vs. 6.9, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PRP using Navilas(R) can be considered as an efficient method for improving patient and operator's comfort with faster laser application and lower treatment-related pain.