Minimally Traumatic Millisecond Lasers

etinal laser photocoagulation was first described 45 years ago and remains the standard of care for many retinal diseases. The Diabetic Retinopathy Study established panretinal photocoagulation as an effective treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conventional retinal laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular applications, and the treatment of retinal breaks is typically performed with a continuous wave laser at 514 or 532 nm with exposure durations from 100 to 200 ms, spot sizes from 100 to 500 μm, and powers from 100 to 750 mW. Thermal ablation of tumors and extrafoveal choroidal neovascular membranes often involve longer pulse durations from 200 to 500 ms and yellow-red wavelengths.