laser photocoagulation in diabetic macular edema: effects on visual acuity and macular edema

due to the importance of clinically significant macular edema in diabetic patients, this study is aimed to determine if laser photocoagulation is effective in the treatment of clinically significant diabetic macular edema. in addition, the effects of risk factors arc surveyed* this is an existing data study considering patients with clinically significant diabetic macular edema, treated with argon-green laser photocoagulation in labbafinejad hospital, department of lasertherapy, from 1995 to 1997. in 60 (42.6%) eyes the treatment method was focal, in 22 (15.6%) eyes grid, and in 59 (41.84) modified grid laser photocoagulation was performed. the results are based upon deterioration of visual acuity, occurance of moderate visual loss and improvement or persistence of csme. we studied 114 eyes from 87 patients. two years after initial treatment, visual acuity improved in 19.1% of eyes, unchanged in 9.5% and worsened in 71.4% of eyes. after this period the rate of moderate visual loss was 28.6% and csme was improved in 23.8% of eyes. according to our study, baseline visual acuity and retinopathy severity were two important intervening factors in response to lasertherapy. comparing our results with natural course of diabetic macular edema, indicates that in assessing visual outcome laser photocoagulation is an effective modality in treatment of csme, but it is not effective in maintaining or improving visual acuity, which is due to patients delay in visiting ophthalmologists and paying not enough attention to follow-up visits.