COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF ARGON GREEN AND KRYPTON RED LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC EXUDATIVE MACULOPATHY

Aims/Background-Focal treatment of diabetic macular oedema is usually done using a haemoglobin absorbing wave-length, such as argon green la ser. This study aimed to compare photocoagulation with argon green (51 4 nm) and krypton red (647 nm), which is poorly absorbed by haemoglobi n, in the focal treatment of patients with diabetic exudative maculopa thy. Methods-A total of 151 eyes of 78 out-patients were assigned rand omly to receive either argon green (n = 79) or krypton red (n = 72) la ser treatment. Pretreatment and post-treatment ocular examinations inc luded visual acuity, fundus biomicroscopic examination, and fluorescei n angiography. A total of 141 eyes of 73 patients were available for e valuation after 1 year follow up. Results-No statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment groups with respect to visual acuity results, resorption of hard exudates, and resolution of focal retinal oedema. Conclusion-Krypton red laser was effective in t he treatment of diabetic exudative maculopathy. Our data suggest that differential absorption of the wavelengths by haemoglobin microaneurys ms may not be an important factor for ultimate success of focal treatm ent.