Treatment of diabetic retinopathy by photocoagulation. Indications, methods and results

The beneficial effects of Argon laser panretinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy complications in decreasing the incidence of blindness were established almost twenty years ago by a multicentric study (Diabetic Retinopathy Study). Every eye presenting with neovascular proliferation either on the disc or elsewhere should be treated with panretinal photocoagulation. Diabetic maculopathy, and mainly cystoid macular edema is the main cause of visual loss in diabetic patients. Photocoagulation in the macular area has proven to be effective in the treatment of exudate rings and cystoid macular edema. Visual acuity is either stabilized or improved after Argon laser treatment of diabetic maculopathy.