Micropulse Laser Treatment of Retinal Diseases

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.