Methylprednisolone therapy for retinal laser injury

Laser photocoagulation treatment of the posterior pole of the retina is often complicated by immediate visual impairment, which is caused by the unavoidable laser-induced destruction of the normal tissue adjacent to the lesion. A neuroprotective therapy aimed at salvaging this normal tissue might enhance the benefit obtained from treatment and permit safe perifoveal photocoagulation. To determine whether corticosteroids can provide neuroprotection during photocoagulation, we examined the effect of methylprednisolone on laser-induced retinal injury in a rat model.

Argon laser lesions were inflicted on the retinas of 36 rats and were followed immediately by intraperitoneal injections of high-dose methylprednisolone or saline. The animals were sacrificed after 3, 20, or 60 days, and their retinal lesions were evaluated histologically and morphometrically.

No histopathologic differences were observed between the treated and control animals. Methylprednisolone treatment was demonstrated to posses some neuroprotective effect for a short time after laser exposure, but was ineffective in ameliorating the long-term results of retinal laser injury.

On the basis of our results, we suggest that high-dose methylprednisolone treatment is ineffective in ameliorating laser-induced retinal injury. Other drugs should be investigated for their potential role as neuroprotective agents to prevent the spread of retinal laser damage.