Efficacy of navigated focal laser photocoagulation in diabetic macular edema planned with en face optical coherence tomography versus fluorescein angiography

Optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetic retinopathy: A major review

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by retinal vasculopathy and is a leading cause of visual impairment. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an innovative imaging technology that can detect various pathologies and quantifiable changes in retinal microvasculature. We briefly describe its functional principles and advantages over fluorescein angiography and perform a comprehensive review on its clinical applications in the screening or management of people with prediabetes, diabetes without clinical retinopathy (NDR), nonproliferative DR (NPDR), proliferative DR (PDR), and diabetic macular edema (DME). OCTA reveals early microvascular alterations in prediabetic and NDR eyes, which may coexist with sub-clinical neuroretinal dysfunction. Its applications in NPDR include measuring ischemia, detecting retinal neovascularization, and timing of early treatment through predicting the risk of retinopathy worsening or development of DME. In PDR, OCTA helps characterize the flow within neovascular complexes and evaluate their progression or regression in response to treatment. In eyes with DME, OCTA perfusion parameters may be of predictive value regarding the visual and anatomical gains associated with treatment. We further discussed the limitations of OCTA and the benefits of its incorporation into an updated DR severity scale.

The Role of Laser Photocoagulation in Treating Diabetic Macular Edema in the Era of Intravitreal Drug Administration: A Descriptive Review

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the role of laser photocoagulation therapy in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the first-line treatment, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search to identify studies that evaluated the efficacy of laser photocoagulation therapy in the management of DME was performed. The relevant findings of the efficacy of focal/grid laser therapy from data in randomized, controlled trials were synthesized, and the potential of new laser technologies, such as navigated laser systems, pattern scan lasers, and subthreshold lasers, was explored. The usefulness of multimodal imaging-guided laser therapy was also evaluated, with a focus on the potential contribution to anti-VEGF therapy. Results: Focal laser photocoagulation targeting microaneurysms remains an effective therapeutic approach to chronic refractory edema, despite the widespread use of anti-VEGF therapy. To achieve the best possible treatment outcomes, precise identification of microaneurysms is essential. This requires the use of multimodal imaging-guided, highly accurate, minimally invasive coagulation techniques. Subthreshold laser therapy can also reduce the frequency of anti-VEGF injections and minimize treatment burden. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to determine the optimal timing and settings for laser photocoagulation therapy and the potential of new laser technologies in the management of DME. Nevertheless, laser photocoagulation therapy plays an important role in the management of DME, in conjunction with anti-VEGF therapy.