2011-07: Navilas™ laser versus classic frequency doubled Nd-YAG (532 nm) laser therapy for diabetic macular edema. A randomized study analyzing the effect on central visual function.

Diabetic macular edema (DME), the incidence of which is expected to increase to 12,500 new patients annually in the Netherlands in 2025, often results in severe visual acuity loss. Visual loss can be significantly reduced by grid laser photocoagulation. With an image-guided retina laser (Navilas™) it is possible to accurately execute the intended treatment without causing unnecessary retinal damage. Thus visual loss may be further prevented. Objective: To study the impact of laser photocoagulation on the parafoveal visual field in a previously untreated population of patients with DME. This is a prospective, randomized, double-masked, three-arms, comparative study among patients with recently diagnosed DME without prior treatment. The intervention is 1: Standard laser photocoagulation treatment; 2: Navilas™ threshold preset laser pattern; 3: Navilas™ subthreshold preset laser pattern.