Senile macular degeneration. Results of laser treatment. A preliminary report

A preliminary report on laser treatment of senile macular degeneration is presented. Over a one year period 234 patients with symptoms and signs of macular degeneration were examined with fluorescein angiography. 32 patients (14%) showed neovascular membranes accessible to treatment with blue/green argon laser. At the end of the observation period (mean 8.7 months) one half of the treated group had unchanged or better visual acuity, whereas the other half showed deterioration of the visual acuity. It is not known whether this result differs from the average spontaneous course. A controlled trial is necessary in order to evaluate the possible beneficial effect of laser treatment of senile macular degeneration in our population.