Argon laser photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy: five year review of 697 treated eyes

Diabetic retinopathy has now become a common cause of blindness in Singapore. Fortunately, laser photocoagulation has prevented blindness in the majority of patients who were treated. An analysis of 872 patients treated with argon laser photocoagulation showed that 424 patients (48.6%) were for diabetic retinopathy. Patients with adequate treatment retained useful vision. Those who lost vision frequently had associated target organ involvement besides inadequate laser treatment. Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were treated with peripheral retinal photocoagulation. Patients with diabetic maculopathy especially those with focal leaks were treated with localised photocoagulation. A common cause of blindness is failure to recognise the condition early. Physicians and general practitioners must, in the management of diabetics, examine their patients periodically with the pupils dilated in a darkened room.