Al-Kitab Journal for Pure Sciences

Due to the significance of macular edema in retinal vascular diseases, this study aims to determine whether laser photocoagulation is effective in the treatment of macular edema and in the improvement of visual acuity. This is a prospective data study considering 80 patients with 52 eyes, with a follow-up of 6 weeks, 3 months, and six months with macular edema treated with double frequency yag laser photocoagulation in Aso Eye Hospital in Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan, Iraq, from February 2010 to October 2010. With six months of follow-up, visual acuity was improved in 36.4% of eyes, unchanged in 61.3%, and worsened in 2.3%. After this period the macular edema was improved in 78.85% and not improved in 21.15%. According to this study, baseline visual acuity and retinopathy severity were two important intervening factors in response to laser therapy. Comparing the current results with other studies, it has been found that, in assessing visual outcomes, laser photocoagulation is an effective modality in the treatment of macular edema, and it improves visual acuity in retinal vascular diseases.