October 26, 2011
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Study: Micropulse yellow laser as effective as conventional treatment for DME

ORLANDO, Fla. — Micropulse 577-nm yellow laser is as effective as 532-nm green laser for diabetic macular edema, an investigator said here.

Reporting the 12-month results of the Yell-1 study (Micropulse 577-nm yellow laser vs. conventional 532-nm green laser for diabetic macular edema) at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Kenneth C.S. Fong, MD, said, "There was a reduction in both groups [in macular thickness seen on optical coherence tomography] compared with baseline, but there was no statistical difference between the micropulse group and the green laser group."

Fifty eyes in the green group and 48 eyes in the yellow group were studied in this prospective, randomized, double-masked parallel trial. Primary outcome measure was best corrected visual acuity.

Dr. Fong said that the interest in using micropulse yellow is to prevent laser scars from forming in patients with macular edema.

  • Disclosure: Dr. Fong has financial interests in Quantel Medical, Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Bausch + Lomb.