[Photocoagulation of senile macular degeneration. (Critical analysis of the results obtained in 66 cases)].

Abstract

The article is a critical study of visual results obtained by means of photocoagulation in 66 cases of senile macular degeneration with a follow up from 3 months up to 45 months. The author believes that an improvement of the visual acuity of 0,1 is not a reliable criteria for evaluation of the results. She takes as true good results only the cases in which reading is possible after treatment (visual acuity greater than or equal to 0,7 Parinaud 3). Using that criteria the percentage of true sucess is only of 32,5 p. 100 for the cases treated since over one year. That percentage is low but it seems enough to justify the treatment since only 3,4 p. 100 of the non treated cases keep usefull visual acuity after one year. Besides, review of the causes of sucess and failures leads to feel that the results should be improved in the future by an earlier treatment, a better selection of the indications and a more accurate technique.