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ERBIUM: YAG LASER FOR POSTERIOR VITRECTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY-THREE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Piotr Rusek, A. Gierek-Lapinska, S. Bolek, A. Sarzynski (Katowice)

Aims: To determine the applicability of an erbium: YAG laser for vitreoretinal surgery.

Material and methods: A retrospective trial of 265 eyes in 215 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy which underwent posterior vitrectomy in 1998 - 2000. The mean age of patients was 61 years. They underwent complete ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, electroretinography and measuring of lens opacity before and after the surgery at 1 day and 1 month.

Posterior vitrectomy followed a typical course and an erbium: YAG laser (Versa Pulse Select from Coherent) was used to perform transection of vascularized proliferations and epiretinal membranes.

The anatomical and functional outcomes were analyzed. Because of advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy the cases were evaluated individually.

Results and discussion: The erbium: YAG laser is sufficiently capable of described approaches offering precise tissue cutting with simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels in vitreoretinal surgery. Reducing the risk of bleeding during and after the surgery it helps to maintain the improvement of visual function.


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