New Frontiers in Selective Retinal Lasers

Abstract

Retinal laser photocoagulation was first described over 50 years ago and remains the standard of care for many retinal diseases. Conventional retinal laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular diseases, and retinal tears is typically performed with a continuous wave laser in the green, yellow, or red range, primarily at 514 or 532 nanometers (nm), pulse duration of 100 to 200 milliseconds (ms), spot size from 100 to 500 micrometers (um), and laser power to achieve the clinical endpoint, typically around 100 to 750 milliwatts (mW). Laser therapy is typically empirically titrated to a visible clinical effect of greyish whitening of the retina, which corresponds to photoreceptors necrosis and inner retinal damage.