Diabetic macular edema is the leading cause of decreased vision from diabetic retinopathy. The most promising treatment for diabetic macular edema has been photocoagulation and we have reviewed 18 cases, 25 eyes, of macular edema which were treated either by focal laser photocoagulation or grid-pattern photocoagulation between January 1988 to December 1990 and followed for at least 4 months. Visual acuity improved in 8 eyes (57.1 %) of 14 eyes treated with focal laser photocoagulation and 4 eyes (36.4%) of 11 eyes treated with grid-pattern photocoagulation. Visual acuity was stable in 6 eyes (42.9%) treated with focal laser photocoagulation and 4 eyes (36.4%) treated with grid-pattern photocagulation. Of 3 eyes (27.3%) with diffuse macular edema was worsened visual acuity although treated with grid-pattern photocoagulation.
Diabetic Retinopathy ; Light Coagulation* ; Macular Edema* ; Visual Acuity