Subthreshold Nanosecond Laser, From Trials To Real-Life Clinical Practice: A Cohort Study
Published 2023 - 41st Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO1059 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/f43w-kw42
Authors: Hasan Chichan* 1
1Ophthalmology ,Cologne medical University ,Cologne ,Germany
Purpose
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a degenerative disorder, is a major cause of irreversible severe visual deterioration in the older Western population. Thus, treatments that resolve drusen may prove helpful in limiting the progression of AMD. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of sub-threshold nanosecond laser therapy (SNL) using a double-frequency nanosecond-pulsed laser with discontinuous energy beam distribution in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Setting
In a single-center cohort study, 64 eyes with early or intermediate AMD were treated using SNL and then compared to 77 untreated, control eyes. The primary outcome measures included the area and amount of drusen, and the secondary outcome measures included change in visual acuity and rate of drusen progression within 6 months of follow-up.
Methods
This study was conducted in a single center in Cologne, Germany and was designed as a cohort study and performed in accordance with good clinical practice (International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) E6) and the Declaration of Helsinki II. All patients were fully informed in detail about the therapy and the possible complications, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients before initiation of the treatment.
Results
Two hundred and twelve patients were screened. We divided data into two groups, arm 1 received SNL treatment while arm 2 was the control group. Median age for AMD enrolment was 65 (45–80) years. Ninety-six of the participants were male and 116 participants were female. The range for BCVA was between 60 (6/18) early treatment diabetic retinopathy study letters to 93 (6/4.8) . Baseline images were collected for all enrolled participants and follow-up results were evaluated over the period of 6 months. Environmental and general risk factors evaluation presented 37% (n=79) of patients on medication treatment with anti-hypertensive,31% (n=65) has a history of angina or other heart diseases and 32% (n=68) of participants had a history of smoking
Conclusions
Conclusion
SNL therapy is a novel, promising approach for improving the macular morphology in patients with early and intermediate AMD. Further studies are necessary to reveal the potential to reduce the risk of transformation into advanced or wet AMD and to retain vision.