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 e yes of 56 diabetic patients underwent modified grid laser photocoagula tion for diabetic maculopathy according to the protocol of the Europea n Study Group on Diabetic Eye Complications and the Early Treatment Di abetic 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 w ith visual acuity more than 0.7 were included in group C. At 1 year, 7 9.4% 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 grou p A, 30% of group B and 66.7% of group C and at 2.5 years 85.7% of gro up A, 27.3% of group B and 75% of group C improved or preserved their visual acuity. The percentages of positive results concerning the visu al acuity for groups A and C were significantly greater compared with those for group B. These results suggest that modified grid laser phot ocoagulation for the management of diabetic maculopathy is an effectiv e procedure in 'early treated' eyes (visual aquity greater than or equ al to 0.7). It contributes to improve a little or to preserve low visi on but it did not affect the natural course of disease in the rest of the eyes.