Purpose: To assess the efficacy and outcomes of PASCAL^® laser versus conventional laser for panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of 26 eyes at Nagoya City University Hospital which had undergone PRP with a follow-up of at least 6 months. The study endpoints were change in visual outcome, central retinal thickness (CRT), laser setting parameters, and total number of PRP and complications.
Results: Ten eyes of conventional laser-treated patients and 16 eyes of PASCAL^®-treated patients were reviewed. There were significant differences in the laser treating parameters between the PASCAL^® laser treatment and conventional laser treatment in power, duration, number of sessions and total spot counts including additional treatments (p<0.01). Among the patients who had undergone PRP in the PASCAL group there was an average of 4195 spots, larger than the conventional laser group (p<0.0001). There were no significant differences between PASCAL group and conventional laser group in complications and in ability to prevent visual loss and CRT.
Conclusion: Our data suggested that PASCAL^® laser might need tighter spacing and more total spot counts to achieve an effect equal to traditional conventional laser treatment.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 118: 362-367, 2014.