David D. Gossage, DO

NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, David Gossage, DO, shares pearls on how to use MicroPulse technology (Iridex) for glaucoma and retina treatments.

Pseudoexfoliation is the most common cause of secondary glaucoma worldwide and can be difficult to treat. MicroPulse laser trabeculoplasty is an effective treatment that is safe and can be repeated as necessary.

Ophthalmology is a dynamic field that tends to develop new therapies quickly relative to other fields of medicine. Occasionally, this can create confusion when it comes to defining best practices for treatment of pathologies.

Laser photocoagulation is the current gold standard in the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Both the Diabetic Retinopathy Study and the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study show that laser photocoagulation reduces the risk of vision loss in cases of diabetic retinopathy. While this therapy has been refined and made safer since its inception and its efficacy has been validated by many studies, the issue of collateral thermal damage to surrounding structures has always remained.