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Review
. 2019 Feb 13;8(2):242.
doi: 10.3390/jcm8020242.

Micropulse Laser Treatment of Retinal Diseases

Maciej Gawęcki  1
Affiliations
Review

Micropulse Laser Treatment of Retinal Diseases

Maciej Gawęcki. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Subthreshold micropulse laser treatment has been intensively used for selected retinal diseases in the last decade; however, the exact mechanism of the action of lasers in the subthreshold micropulse mode is not yet fully understood. This kind of treatment is safe and cheap, and contrary to classic laser photocoagulation, it leaves the retinal cells intact. A modern theory of micropulse laser interaction with retinal tissue and a possible explanation of this mechanism are presented in this review. The authors present all the relevant literature on the application of micropulse lasers in different retinal disorders. The efficacy of this treatment is analyzed on the basis of available studies and then placed in the perspective of other therapeutic methods that are used in retinal diseases.

Keywords: central serous chorioretinopathy; diabetic macular edema; retinal vein occlusion; subthreshold micropulse laser.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a,b) Mechanism of action of continuous wave laser versus subthreshold micropulse laser treatment (SMPLT). (a) In application of continous wave laser the power is distributed evenly within the duration of an impact. (b) In SMPLT, laser impact is delivered in a train of short impulses between which there are intervals that enable retinal tissue to cool down.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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