Purpose: To evaluate the effects of yellow micropulse laser in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods: In this retrospective interventional case series, 22 eyes of 17 patients with visual impairment secondary to persistent DME received one single session of yellow micropulse laser. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1, naive eyes; and group 2, previously treated eyes. Main outcome measures included changes in central retinal thickness (CRT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Possible atrophic changes of the retinal pigment epithelium as a result of yellow micropulse laser application were evaluated with fundus autofluorescence.
Results: At baseline, the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.39 ± 0.18 and the mean CRT was 361.8 ± 70.95. The mean BCVA improved to 0.31 ± 0.19 (p = 0.0091) and 0.31 ± 0.19 (p = 0.0078) at 3 and 6 months of follow-up, respectively. The mean CRT improved to 331.3 ± 48.46 (p<0.0001) and 328.1 ± 53.25 (p<0.0001) at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Subgroup analysis showed that only in naive eyes was there a beneficial effect on visual acuity and central macular thickness.
Conclusions: In eyes with DME, yellow micropulse laser produces a statistically significant improvement in BCVA and CRT in the short term.