Utility of large spot binocular indirect laser delivery for peripheral photocoagulation therapy in children

Arch Ophthalmol. 2012 Sep;130(9):1213-7. doi: 10.1001/archophthalmol.2012.1978.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the utility of the large spot size (LSS) setting using a binocular laser indirect delivery system for peripheral ablation in children. One patient with bilateral retinopathy of prematurity received photocoagulation with standard spot size burns placed adjacently to LSS burns. Using a pixel analysis program called Image J on the Retcam picture, the areas of each retinal spot size were determined in units of pixels, giving a standard spot range of 805 to 1294 pixels and LSS range of 1699 to 2311 pixels. Additionally, fluence was calculated using theoretical retinal areas produced by each spot size: the standard spot setting was 462 mJ/mm2 and the LSS setting was 104 mJ/mm2. For eyes with retinopathy of prematurity, our study shows that LSS laser indirect delivery halves the number of spots required for treatment and reduces fluence by almost one-quarter, producing more uniform spots.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Laser Coagulation / instrumentation
  • Laser Coagulation / methods*
  • Male
  • Ophthalmoscopes
  • Pars Planitis / surgery*
  • Retinal Telangiectasis / surgery*
  • Retinal Vasculitis / surgery*
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity / surgery*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity / physiology