SINGLE SESSION OF PASCAL VERSUS MULTIPLE SESSIONS OF CONVENTIONAL LASER FOR PANRETINAL PHOTOCOAGULATION IN PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

A Comparitive Study

Abstract

Background: 

Panretinal photocoagulation remains the gold standard for treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which can be done in a single session or in multiple sessions. However, because of different reasons, single session is less frequently practiced. We describe the results of a single session of pattern scan laser versus multiple sessions of conventional laser in cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: 

A prospective study was performed on 50 patients (100 eyes), in whom proliferative diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed recently. Two eyes of an individual patient were randomly assigned, one for a single session of panretinal photocoagulation using pattern scan laser and the other for multiple sessions of conventional laser.

Results: 

Our study confirms that single session is effective and even better than conventional laser in relation to the effect of treatment.

Conclusion: 

Complications and the associated pain are less; thus, the patient's acceptance of PASCAL was high, and a single session was well tolerated with topical anesthesia alone.