Laser photocoagulation in patients with macular edema and diabetic retinopathy
Abstract
Introduction: by 2030 4.4 million diabetics could become blind due to retinopathy and macular edema. Its treatment is mainly based on laser photocoagulation.
Objective: to describe some demographic, clinical and surgical aspects in patients with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema treated with laser photocoagulation.
Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 3 885 diabetics (6 515 eyes) treated at the Ciego de Ávila Ophthalmological Center between January 2014 and December 2019, who met the inclusion criteria. A data collection worksheet was created with the variables of interest. The data were taken from charge sheets, medical records and laser reports. The ethical precepts were fulfilled.
Results: type 2 diabetics (67,90 %), the 70 to 79-year-old group (31,22 %) and females (83,58 %) predominated. Clinically significant macular edema (55,32 %) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy without high-risk features (30,70 %) prevailed at initial diagnosis. At baseline, 1 875 right eyes and 1 706 left eyes presented visual acuity between 0,5 and 0,3. One year after treatment, there were 2 021 and 1 947, respectively; 97,00 % showed regression of the clinical picture. Hyperglycemia (13,67 %) was the most found non-regression factor. There were few complications (0,59 %).
Conclusions: visual acuity improved with laser photocoagulation. Although the majority of diabetics began in advanced stages, favorable indicators of clinical regression were achieved and complications were few