[Photocoagulation with free-running mode Nd: YAG laser on neovascular maculopathy]

Seventeen eyes in 14 cases of early neovascular maculopathy were treated with free-running mode Nd: YAG laser and followed up for 7 to 56 months by examination of visual acuity, fluorescein angiography and static perimetry. Obliteration of subretinal neovascularization could be achieved with both mild and moderate photocoagulation. Retinal sensitivity after moderate photocoagulation decreased moderately. Damaged retinal sensitivity after mild photocoagulation recovered one month later. Two out of 11 eyes in which only the neovascular membrane was treated showed recurrent neovascularization adjacent to the treated lesion 6 months and 9 months after photocoagulation. One out of 6 eyes received mild photocoagulation on the neovascular membrane and the surrounding area showed recurrent neovascularization adjacent to the treated lesion 6 months after photocoagulation. Retinal hemorrhage occurred in one out of 14 eyes that received mild photocoagulation and in one out of three moderately photocoagulated eyes. The recurrent neovascularization occurred in two eyes with retinal hemorrhage and in one mild burned eye without retinal hemorrhage. Recurrent neovascularization may correlate with retinal hemorrhage.