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Subretinal endoscopic photocoagulation approach to CNV reported
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A novel surgical procedure, subretinal thermal photocoagulation, stabilized and improved vision in a pilot study in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
Frank H. J. Koch, MD, and colleagues in Frankfurt, Germany, and Mexico City conducted the study, which included 24 eyes of 24 patients.
In the surgical procedure, called pigment epithelium endoscopic laser surgery (PEELS), the retina is detached at the posterior pole. Subretinal thermal photocoagulation of the CNV is then performed using a 20/19-gauge GRIN rod laser endoscope from Insight Instruments Inc.
Seven of nine patients treated in Mexico achieved moderate improvement or stabilization of vision over at least 6 months follow-up. Of the cases done in Germany, 10 of 12 patients that reached at least 6 months follow-up achieved stabilization or improvement of vision. Four of the Germany-treated patients showed improvement in vision, the study authors said.
The authors noted that no serious complications were observed.
The study is published in Ophthalmologica.