Subthreshold micropulse yellow 577 nm laser therapy of diabetic macular oedema in rural and urban patients of south-eastern Poland

Objectiv. To evaluate the efficacy of subthreshold micropulse yellow (577 nm) laser photocoagulation in diffuse macular edema (DME) in rural and urban patients of south-eastern Poland. Materials and method. Seventy-five eyes of 75 patients with diffuse DME were treated with subthreshold micropulse yellow laser photocoagulation with a 5% duty cycle at an energy level. The laser exposure time was 20 ms and the spot diameter was 100 μm. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reading vision (Snellen) and optical coherence tomography-determined central retinal thickness (CRT) were estimated before and 2, 4 and 6 months after laser treatment. There were no statistically important differences in: the advancement of DME, HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) level, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), the degree of vision damage between rural and urban patients. Results. The follow-up was 6 months later. The baseline BCVA was 0.20 and remained stable- 0.3 after 6 months. The Snellen at baseline was 1.0 and improved to 0.5 finally (p=0.0004). The CRT at baseline was 500 μm and changed to 346 μm (p=0.00000) at the final follow-up. Finally, no retinal damage was observed. Conclusions. Place of residence had no statistically significant effect on the demographics data, baseline visual acuity, reading visual acuity and central retinal thickness. Subthreshold micropulse yellow laser showed a highly significant efficiency in the treatment of DME. The effects of the treatment were more significant in rural patients than in urban ones.