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Application of subthreshold laser therapy in retinal diseases: a review.

ABSTRACT: Introduction:Laser photocoagulation has been a valuable tool in the ophthalmologist's armamentarium for decades. Conventional laser photocoagulation relies on visible retinal burns as a treatment endpoint, which is thought to result in photocoagulative necrosis of retinal tissue. Recent studies have suggested that using subthreshold (ST) laser, which does not cause detectable damage to the retina may also have therapeutic effects in a variety of retinal diseases. Areas covered: We review the proposed biological mechanisms mediating the therapeutic effects of subthreshold laser on the retina, followed by the evidence for ST laser efficacy in retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema, central serous chorioretinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion. Expert Commentary:Multiple clinical studies demonstrate that subthreshold laser does not cause structural damage to the retina based on multimodal imaging. Evidence suggests that there is a therapeutic effect on decreasing diabetic macular edema and subretinal fluid in chronic central serous retinopathy; however, the effect may be relatively modest and is not as efficacious as first line treatments for these diseases. Given the repeatability and lack of damage to the retina by this treatment, subthreshold laser deserves further study to determine its place in the retina specialist's armamentarium.

SUBMITTER: Moore SM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6831099 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Application of subthreshold laser therapy in retinal diseases: a review.

Moore Spencer M SM Chao Daniel L DL

Expert review of ophthalmology 20181211 6

<h4>Introduction</h4>Laser photocoagulation has been a valuable tool in the ophthalmologist's armamentarium for decades. Conventional laser photocoagulation relies on visible retinal burns as a treatment endpoint, which is thought to result in photocoagulative necrosis of retinal tissue. Recent studies have suggested that using subthreshold (ST) laser, which does not cause detectable damage to the retina may also have therapeutic effects in a variety of retinal diseases. Areas covered: We review ...[more]

PMID: 31692951

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Project description:BackgroundBased on phenotypic similarities between age-related macular degeneration and the autosomal disorder Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy, we report on a single nanolaser treatment of a patient with genotype Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy confirmation and evidence of disease progression over 12 months. The case study is the first report of short-term results of subthreshold nanolaser treatment in a patient with Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy.Case presentationA 43-year-old Caucasian man with moderate loss of visual acuity in his left eye (20/40) and normal visual acuity in his right eye (20/20), with clinical Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy diagnosis and genetic confirmation of the common heterozygous mutation (EFEMP1) by genetic testing, underwent nanopulse subthreshold laser treatment in his left eye. A safety examination, carried out 7 days after treatment, and clinical follow-up, conducted 60 days following laser treatment, showed improvement of visual acuity from baseline by two letters and a subjective improvement of blurring. While no apparent morphological changes were found on fundoscopy, increased autofluorescence in the treated eye was observed on imaging. In addition, 2 months after nanopulse subthreshold laser treatment, rod-mediated and cone-mediated full-field electroretinography b-wave amplitudes showed an increase from baseline in both the treated eye (300%) and untreated eye (50%). At 2 months after nanopulse subthreshold laser treatment, multifocal electroretinograms showed improvement. Acuity and full-field electroretinography improvement persisted at 6-month follow-up.ConclusionsSustained improvements in retinal function on electroretinography persisted in both eyes 6 months after treatment, suggesting an enhancement of phototransduction and retinoid recycling induced by nanopulse subthreshold laser treatment. The functional improvement observed in the untreated eye is hypothesized to arise from an increased expression and release of metalloproteinases that circulate systemically.

Project description:BackgroundDiabetic macular edema (DME) is the main cause of visual loss in diabetic patients. Despite the use of anti-VEGF therapy as first-line treatment, there are many patients whose response to treatment is poor or transient at best. Sophisticated laser techniques have emerged aiming at low-intensity retinal damage, avoiding excessive heat that causes tissue necrosis and related collateral effects.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of combined sublethal laser modalities from short-pulse duration (SPD) with endpoint management (EpM) subthreshold laser [named the "sandwich technique" (SWiT)] on central subfield thickness (CST) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with DME.Material and methodsIn this consecutive retrospective study, 37 patients (37 eyes) with center-involved (CI) DME were treated with SWiT laser therapy from April 2017 to June 2021. The technique consisted of a mean number of 200 (range number 50-400) SPD laser burns OCT-guided thickened area performed on the juxta- and perifoveal area 500 µm away from the foveal center, overlapping with a mean number of 1000 (range number 800-1200) EpM laser burns focused on 6 mm macular diameter area but saving 300 µm toward the foveal center. All patients underwent ophthalmological evaluations, including BCVA and CST measurement by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), before and after SWiT laser therapy. The mean follow-up time was 19.2 months (range 2-60 months).ResultsThirty-five out of 37 cases showed an improvement in CST and BCVA following treatment. At baseline, mean CST (µm) ± standard error (SE) and mean BCVA (logMAR) ± SE was 456.95 ± 37.00 and 0.71 ± 0.29, respectively. After a mean follow-up of 19.2 months, mean CST (µm) ± SE and BCVA (logMAR) ± SE were 272.09 ± 9.10 (p < 0.0001) and 0.54 ± 0.26 (p = 0.003), respectively. A statistically significant reduction in CST and improvement in BCVA was noted after laser therapy application. The anti-VEGF injection frequency was reduced during the mean 19.2 months of the study period.ConclusionsThe novel "sandwich" laser therapy aid reduced CST and improved BCVA in this retrospective case series. Further prospective studies are warranted.

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Application of subthreshold laser therapy in retinal diseases: a review.

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Application of subthreshold laser therapy in retinal diseases: a review.

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