RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Controlled trial of laser photocoagulation of pigment epithelial detachments in the elderly: 4 year review.
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 5
OP 7
DO 10.1136/bjo.76.1.5
VO 76
IS 1
A1 M J Barondes
A1 S Pagliarini
A1 I H Chisholm
A1 A M Hamilton
A1 A C Bird
YR 1992
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/76/1/5.abstract
AB Patients who were enrolled in a controlled treatment trial of laser grid photocoagulation for retinal pigment epithelial detachment as part of age-related maculopathy were reviewed 4 years after entry into the trial. The data imply that the original conclusion that this form of treatment did not improve the visual prognosis at 18 months was also justified at 4 years. It has become clear that lesions with evidence of subpigment epithelial new vessels were included in the trial. In a retrospective study the lesions were separated into those in which there was evidence of subretinal neovascularisation and those in which no such evidence existed. A difference was identified in the behaviour of the treated and untreated lesions designated avascular in that the treated eyes had a poorer visual outcome. These cases accounted for the different behaviour between two management groups in the initial study such that the original conclusion that grid photocoagulation of avascular pigment epithelial detachments in the elderly does not improve the visual prognosis is justified.