This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on Web of Science (1)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Law and Medicine  • Medical Ethics  • Laser Surgery  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Laser photocoagulation has evolved substantially since its introduction. Emphasis is now placed more on laser techniques that spare the retinal structures and limit collateral damage. Previously, laser surgeons used relatively intense yellow-white lesions that could easily be seen directly after placement, either for panretinal photocoagulation or for ablation of choroidal neovascular membranes. These lesions were all well above threshold, ie, beyond the intensity at which they would be barely detectable in the retina during treatment. Efforts to improve visual outcomes have incorporated substantially less intense lesions, including clinically undetectable subthreshold lesions. The effects of subthreshold laser treatment on drusen resorption in age-related macular degeneration is being studied as part of a clinical trial (Prophylactic Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration).¹ Such treatment has also been used for diabetic macular edema and even proliferative diabetic retinopathy.² Proof of therapeutic efficacy of these interventions is not yet irrefutable, although a few early reports . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Thomas R. Friberg, MD
Pittsburgh, Pa

Johann Roider, MD
Kiel, Germany

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