Recent developments in retinal lasers and delivery systems

• Published in: Indian journal of ophthalmology Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 50 - 54
• Main Authors: Yadav, Naresh, Jayadev, Chaitra, Rajendran, Anand, Nagpal, Manish
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications 01.01.2014; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: 2-ethylpyridine; Allograft; Antioxidants; apoptosis; ARPE-19 cells; astigmatism; autograft; Care and treatment; cell-based therapy; cigarette smoke toxicant; Clinical trials; corneal scars; corneoplastique; Diabetic retinopathy; Diode laser; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; electromagnetic ration; Equipment Design; Eye diseases; glutathione; Humans; Infant blindness; Innovations; Intacs; iPhone; keratoconus; Laser Coagulation - instrumentation; Lasers; Lasers - utilization; Lasers in surgery; Lasik; lens; limbal stem cell deficiency; limbal transplantation; limbus; Macular degeneration; middle-income countries; mitochondrial membrane potential; niche; nomogram; non-physician graders; oxidative stress; pattern laser; pinguecula; premium cataract surgery; pterygium; radial keratotomy; reactive oxygen/nitrogen species; refractive complications; Retcam; Retina; Retina - surgery; Retinal Diseases - surgery; retinal photocoagulation; retinopathy of prematurity (ROP); rural areas; screening; smart phones; stem cells; Studies; subthreshold micropulse laser; Symposium - TRIP; tele-ophthalmology; tele-ROP; telemedicine; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vehicles; wide-field digital imaging; yellow laser; yellow laser; pattern laser; subthreshold micropulse laser; Diode laser; retinal photocoagulation
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689
• DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.126179

Photocoagulation is the standard of care for several ocular disorders and in particular retinal conditions. Technology has offered us newer lasing mediums, wavelengths and delivery systems. Pattern scan laser in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema allows laser treatment that is less time consuming and less painful. Now, it is possible to deliver a subthreshold micropulse laser that is above the threshold of biochemical effect but below the threshold of a visible, destructive lesion thereby preventing collateral damage. The advent of solid-state diode yellow laser allows us to treat closer to the fovea, is more effective for vascular structures and offers a more uniform effect in patients with light or irregular fundus pigmentation. Newer retinal photocoagulation options along with their advantages is discussed in this review.