[Combination therapy of the retina in diabetic retinopathy]

Authors refer experiences with the complex therapy of diabetic retinopathy combining laser photocoagulation with cryocoagulation. Various indications and techniques of treatment were described. Equatorial cryocoagulation is advantageous with respect for its rapid performance without excessive loading of the patient and has similar effects as photocoagulation. Cryocoagulation is recommended as the operation of first choice in cases of the partial intravitreal hemorrhage. Cryocoagulation was performed in 51 eyes, 43 of them was followed for the mean period 7.2 months, with additional photocoagulation. After the cryocoagulation, which was preceeded or followed by photocoagulation, the visual acuity was measured one month after the operation and in 18 patients (42%) was improved, in 6 patients (14%) worsened. After one year in 12 followed patients 3 of them were improved, 7 patients worsened. Partial intravitreal hemorrhage with vision 6/60 and better was during one month sufficiently absorbed as to perform the further photocoagulation.