Assessing patient acceptance of laser pretreatment to reduce injection burden in diabetic macular edema: a large scale postal survey

Can J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec;53(6):637-638. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2018.01.034. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Abstract

Objective: To canvass views about whether argon laser pretreatment to ischemic areas of retina would be acceptable if it resulted in a reduced burden of intravitreal injections.

Method: A postal survey was mailed to all 813 patients under the care of the diabetic eye clinic at Singleton Hospital with 10 questions, explanatory information, and a stamp-addressed envelope available for returning completed questionnaires.

Results: Patients were strongly supportive (9.14 out of 10) of the idea of undergoing laser pretreatment if it meant less injections were needed for diabetic macular edema.

Conclusion: This is the first time any survey has analyzed patient attitude to laser pretreatment and showed that patients were strongly in favour if it was found to reduce the need for intravitreal injections.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / complications*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / diagnosis
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / therapy
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Laser Coagulation / methods*
  • Macular Edema / diagnosis
  • Macular Edema / etiology
  • Macular Edema / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Needs Assessment*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide / administration & dosage*
  • Visual Acuity
  • Wales

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide