Light Vs Classic Laser Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema

The Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) clearly demonstrated the efficacy of laser treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME). However, laser therapy is associated with numerous side effects, such as scarring. One proposed mechanism by which laser treatment exerts its effects is via the removal of unhealthy cells from the retinal pigment epithelium. Current research is examining whether light laser treatment, defined as the lowest energy necessary to produce barely visible burns at the retinal pigment epithelium, can effectively treat DME with fewer side effects. Light laser treatment was compared with classical laser treatment in patients with clinically significant macular edema, and the results demonstrated that the 2 approaches produced comparable visual improvements at 9 months, with some decline in the light laser group at 18 months. These preliminary results suggest that light laser may be an effective way to treat DME and may be associated with less damage to the retina. Future research must examine this issue in a larger sample size.