Focal photocoagulation less invasive for microaneurysms

Article

Focal photocoagulation may be a less invasive method for the treatment of microaneurysms, according to a paper published in the journal Retina.

Focal photocoagulation may be a less invasive method for the treatment of microaneurysms, according to a paper published in the journal Retina.

A team led by Dr Y. Yamada, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan, analysed 13 eyes of diabetic patients who underwent focal photocoagulation for clinically significant macula oedema.

The microaneurysms were evaluated preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and one and two months after photocoagulation with SD-OCT. Fluorescein angiography and colour fundus photography were also used to evaluate the microaneurysms.

Preoperatively, the microaneurysms were circular or elliptical in structure with hyperreflective foci within vessel walls. Immediately after the procedure there were indistinct lesions with hyperreflectivity around the microaneurysms.

Efficient photocoagulations procedures resulted in retinal changes limited to within the inner retina around the microaneurysms and there were no changes in the retinal pigment epithelium. Within two postoperative months the microaneurysms transformed into fine scars and the retinal structure was normalized.

The average retinal foveal thickness increased from 432 ± 70 μm preoperatively to 373 ± 84 μm at the two-month follow-up. SD-OCT is useful for assessing the efficacy of photocoagulations procedures.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Christine Curcio, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, shares histology update and revised nomenclature for OCT with Sheryl Stevenson of the Eye Care Network and Ophthalmology Times
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, shares key points from his retina presentation at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.