Laser-induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis using combined lasers with different wavelengths

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of combined lasers with different wavelengths in creating chorioretinal venous anastomosis (CRVA) in nonischaemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHODS: In this retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series, records of all patients with a diagnosis of nonischaemic CRVO who underwent combined laser treatment to induce CRVA and who were followed-up for 6 months or longer were reviewed. RESULTS: Records of 85 patients (85 eyes) were analysed. These patients were divided into two groups. In group 1 (24 cases, 24 eyes), combined lasers with two different wavelengths (argon blue-green laser combined with Nd-YAG laser were used. In group 2 (61 cases, 61 eyes), combined lasers with three different wavelengths (argon blue-green laser combined with krypton red laser and Nd-YAG laser) were used. Functional anastomosis formed in 13 out of 24 eyes (54%) in group 1 and 47 out of 61 eyes (77%) in group 2. In patients with successful anastomosis, visual acuity improved for two or more lines in 49 out of 60 eyes (82%), with the remaining eyes undergoing no change. There were no serious complications. CONCLUSION: The use of three laser wavelengths results in the creation of laser anastomosis and the success rate may be higher than when using two wavelengths alone.