Results of laser therapy in cases with retinal vein occlusions

Abstract

Purpose: of this study is to show the effect of laser therapy (LT) of the neovascularization and vitreal hemorrhage in cases with retinal vein occlusions (RVO). On the other hand is shown the effect of the same therapy on the macular edema and the visual acuity (VA). Method: The study includes 30 patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 51 with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). 12/30 patients with CRVO had an ischemic form with neovascularization while the rest 18/30 had an ischemic form without neovascularization. 19/51 patients with BRVO had an ischemic form followed by neovascularization, 32/51 had nonischemic form with macular edema. Scatter photocoagulation was done in the ischemic forms while in the nonischemic forms with macular edema we have performed a grid photocoagulation with a follow up period of 10-24months. The LT was done with Argon Green Laser Photocoagulation - Coherent Novus 2000. Results: Regression of the neovascularization after the scatter photocoagulation was seen in 25/31 patients. Vitreal hemorrhage showed up in 3/29 patients, but only in the group of the patients with CRVO. Two of them had a spontaneous resorption while in the third one a vitrectomy was done. 20/32 patients ameliorated VA by 2 or more lines, 8/32 had the same VA while 4/32 had a decrease in VA after the grid photocoagulation. Conclusions: The scatter photocoagulation enables high percentage regression of the neovascularization and it's a prevention against serious complications in RVO. On the other hand, performing the grid photocoagulation improves the VA, although it isn't significant for a long-term follow up period.