Prophylactic laser treatment to fellow eyes of unilateral retinal pigment epithelial tears

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate prophylactic laser treatment of the macula in reducing the risk of visual loss in the fellow eye of patients with a retinal pigment epithelial tear caused by age-related macular degeneration in the first eye. METHODS: In a prospective study, 12 patients with a retinal pigment epithelial tear in one eye caused by age-related macular degeneration and drusen in the fellow eye received prophylactic laser treatment of the retina in their fellow eyes and were followed up for 2 years or more after prophylactic treatment. RESULTS: In 12 fellow eyes that received prophylactic laser treatment, a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity to 20/80 or worse occurred in one (8%) of 12..