Efficacy of Laser Photocoagulation for Type 1 Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia: A Retrospective Study

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of laser photocoagulation for type 1 idiopathic macular telangiectasia (MacTel).

Study Design: Retrospective case series

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Oita University Hospital during the period from 2004 to 2013.

Patients and Methods: Six eyes of 6 patients with type 1 MacTel diagnosed consecutively in the Oita University Hospital during the period from 2004 to 2013 were studied. They showed macular edema and their visual acuity were deteriorated due to leakage from the aneurysms. Four patients were male and two were female with an average age of 64 years (range: 41 to 74 years). Informed consent was obtained from each patient and the laser photocoagulation was applied to leaky aneurysms in all eyes. The central macular thickness (CMT) was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Mean follow up period was 44 months (range: 24 - 63 months).

Results: Mean visual acuity significantly increased from logMAR 0.25±0.27 at baseline to logMAR 0.11±0.14 (P<0.05) at the last visit. Visual acuity improved more than 0.2 logMAR in five eyes and was stable (gain or loss of < 0.3 logMAR) in one eye. Mean central macular thickness significantly decreased from 454±181 μm at baseline to 231±67 μm (P<0.05) at the last visit. Macular edema was not detected by OCT inany patients at the last visit.

Conclusion: In type I MacTel, laser photocoagulation may achieve a visual improvement and normalize the central macular thickness.