Analysis of monochromatic green argon-laser treatment for age-related macular degeneration

A retrospective evaluation of 61 consecutive age-related disciform macular degeneration patients who received green argon-laser photocoagulation was done to evaluate the visual results and to search for characteristics of the presenting lesion that correlated with prognosis. For subretinal new vessels within 200 micron of the foveal avascular center, average pretreatment visual acuity was 20/80 and post-treatment 20/200. Twenty-eight percent improved, 36% stabilized, and 36% had worse acuity at last follow-up. Where new vessels were more than 200 micron from the foveal center, 36% improved, 20% stabilized, and 44% had worse acuity. The average pre- and post-treatment visual acuity for this group was 20/80. Overall, 36% required more than one treatment, and associated retinal vascular obliteration was noted in 31%. Hemorrhage over part of the neovascularization, turbid pigment epithelial detachment, and pigment epithelial detachment in the foveal avascular zone were signs that yielded the worst visual prognosis.