[Retinal vein occlusion. III. Initial experience with therapy of retinal vein occlusion with an argon laser]

The authors report the results of laser treatment in 11 patients with chronic oedema of the macula and 6 patients with neovascularizations of the retina and disk of the optic nerve in occlusion of a branch of the retinal vein. In the treatment of chronic oedema of the macula they used their own modification of quadrant barrage suggested by L'Esperance and grid photocoagulation. After a mean follow up period of 3.2 years they achieved a resulting vision of 6/12 or better in 9 of 11 patients, i.e. in 82%, the poorest results were 6/18 in two patients of 11, i.e. in 18%. In the treatment of neovascularizations they used the method of sector photocoagulation. In all six patients, i.e. in 100% they observed regression of neovascularizations. During 2.5-3 years after photocoagulation they did not observe a relapse of neovascularization or haemorrhage into the vitreous body. The results of photocoagulation treatment in chronic oedema of the macula and treatment of neovascularization are of a long-term character.