Peripheral circumferential retinal scatter photocoagulation for the treatment of proliferative sickle retinopathy. An...

Forty-four patients (70 eyes, 220 sea fans) with proliferative sickle retinopathy (PSR) received peripheral circumferential retinal scatter photocoagulation (PCRP) to the peripheral zones of retinal capillary nonperfusion. With an average follow-up of 3.3 years, 33% of preexisting sea fans regressed completely, 46% regressed partially, 19% remained stable, and 2% showed progression. De novo neovascularization developed after treatment in only one eye (1.4%). Ninety-five percent of patients treated had a final visual acuity of 20/30 or better and only one patient (2%) developed a nonresolving vitreous hemorrhage requiring vitrectomy surgery. These results confirm the authors' previous report and continue to compare favorably to the natural history of PSR in which de novo lesions developed in 58%, and 12% of eyes ended with a visual acuity of 20/200 or less. PCRP seems preferable to other techniques in reducing the risk of nonresolving vitreous hemorrhage and/or traction retinal detachment, although randomized controlled studies are needed to conclusively assess the safety and efficacy of this strategy in treating PSR.