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Yeditepe Üniversitesi, Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Doç. Dr. Purpose: To evaluate results and pain responses of short-duration pattern scanning laser (PASCAL) photocoagulation in treatment of retinal diseases.
Materials and Methods: We evaluated clinical records and laser parameters of patients treated by PASCAL retina photocoagulator. At the end of each session patients were asked to score severity of pain on a visual analogue scale (0=no pain, 10=most severe pain).
Results: A total of 146 eyes of 107 patients were treated with pattern photocoagulation. Age of patients were ranged from 8 to 81 years. Diagnosis of patients were as follows: diabetic retinopathy 45 eyes (30.8%), peripheral retinal degenerations 66 eyes (45.2%), symptomatic retinal tears 17 eyes (11.6%), branch retinal vein occlusion 7 eyes (4.8%), retinal vascular abnormalities 4 eyes (2.8%) and macular edema 7 eyes (4.8%). Parameters changed according to optic media, retinal pigmentation and retinal pathology. Typical settings for pattern panretinal photocoagulation and peripheral lesions were 400 μm spot size, 20-30 ms pulse duration; power varied between 225-700 mW. For pattern macular grid photocoagulation parameters changed as 100-μm spot size, 10ms pulse duration and 100 mW. Number of spots created by one shoot ranged from 4 to 20. 46% of patients scored pain experience as none (0), while 20.8% of patients scored as 1, 8.2% of patients scored as 2, 12.5% of patients scored as 3 and 12.5% of patients scored as 4. None of the patients scored ≥5. No complications were observed during treatment.
Conclusion: Short-duration pattern scanning laser photocoagulation provides less painful but effective treatment of retinal diseases. Keywords : Pascal laser, pattern photocoagulation, retinal photocoagulation