RESEARCH ARTICLE
Laser Vitreolysis for Vitreous Opacities: A Prospective Study
Adam Ernest1, Miroslav Veith1, Jakub Dítě1, Jana Vránová2, Peter Mojžiš1, David P. Piñero3, *
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2023Volume: 17
E-location ID: e187436412309130
Publisher ID: e187436412309130
DOI: 10.2174/0118743641265962230922053004
Article History:
Received Date: 19/06/2023Revision Received Date: 19/08/2023
Acceptance Date: 22/08/2023
Electronic publication date: 10/11/2023
Collection year: 2023
open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Aim:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a YAG laser vitreolysis procedure used to remove bothersome vitreous opacities/floaters.
Methods:
The prospective clinical study included 42 eyes of 35 patients (age 32-81 years) with vitreous opacities generating visual disturbances. All patients were treated using the Ellex - Ultra Q Reflex YAG laser and underwent a complete eye examination before the laser vitreolysis and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Changes in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and patient’s subjective perception of disturbances were analysed.
Results:
The average number of laser shots was 118 (6 - 310 shots), with a total average energy of 3.8 mJ per laser shot (2.2 - 9 mJ). The laser intervention was performed only once in a total of 31 eyes (73.8%), whereas it was necessary to perform the intervention twice in 10 cases (23.8%). No significant differences in CDVA were detected during the whole follow-up (p>0.40). No significant changes were found either in CRT (p>0.32). Concerning IOP (p<0.001), it was reduced significantly immediately after the intervention, returning to the pre-intervention level afterwards. The analysis of the responses to the questionnaire revealed that there was a mean improvement in subjective visual symptoms according to patients of 71%. No complications were detected in the sample during the follow-up.
Conclusion:
Laser vitreolysis is a minimally invasive treatment, allowing a complete or partial elimination of vitreous opacities and leading to alleviation of patient’s disturbances.
