This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (18)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Bryan K. Rutledge, MD; Ingolf H. L. Wallow, MD; Gretchen L. Poulsen

Arch Ophthalmol. 1993;111(5):608-613.

Abstract
• Objective.
—The chronic histopathologic effects of focal and grid argon laser photocoagulation were examined in eyes obtained at autopsy that had previously been treated for diabetic macular edema. The focus was on further characterizing fibrous sub-pigment epithelial membranes that previously had been shown to extend beyond burn edges.

Design.
—A total of 131 argon laser burns were evaluated in five eyes. Tissue was embedded in paraffin or glycol methacrylate, serially sectioned, and examined by light microscopy.

Main Outcome Measure.
—Outer and inner nuclear layer defects were measured, and the frequency and extent of sub-pigment epithelial membranes was estimated. The presence of Müller cell processes among membranes was evaluated by immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and enzyme histochemical staining for carbonic anhydrase.

Results.
—Burns consistently produced defects in the outer nuclear layer that were larger than the spot size of the laser beam. Inner nuclear layer defects were present in only seven of 131 burns. Glycol methacrylate-embedded tissue sections from 73 burns showed sub-pigment epithelial membranes in all five eyes. In one eye, membranes were confluent between burns. In the remaining four eyes, 37 individual membranes were found among 53 burns, and 47% of membranes contained Müller cell processes. The membranes in paraffin-embedded tissue could not be adequately evaluated.

Conclusions.
—After focal laser treatment for diabetic macular edema, the inner retina was usually spared. Fibrous sub-pigment epithelial membranes were frequent among burns in all five eyes, and they showed a conspicuous contribution by Müller cell processes. We speculate that by impairing the overlying pigment epithelium, these membranes may contribute to a progressive enlargement of laser scars.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication December 30, 1992.

Presented, in part, during the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Sarasota, Fla, May 2, 1990.

Reprint requests to Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792 (Dr Rutledge).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide combined with subthreshold grid laser treatment for macular oedema in branch retinal vein occlusion: a pilot study
Parodi et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1046-1050.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Combined triamcinolone acetonide injection and grid laser photocoagulation: a promising treatment for diffuse diabetic macular oedema?
Iida
Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:407-408.
FULL TEXT  

Laser Induces Apoptosis and Ceramide Production in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Barak et al.
IOVS 2005;46:2587-2591.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subthreshold diode micropulse photocoagulation for the treatment of clinically significant diabetic macular oedema
Luttrull et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:74-80.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subthreshold micropulse diode laser treatment in diabetic macular oedema
Laursen et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2004;88:1173-1179.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Vitrectomy for cystoid macular oedema with attached posterior hyaloid membrane in patients with diabetes
Ikeda et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:12-14.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT