Grid photocoagulation for macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

We performed a pilot study of grid laser photocoagulation in 16 patients with fluorescein angiographically demonstrable macular edema associated with retinitis pigmentosa. Six of the treated eyes showed a positive response, while none of the fellow untreated eyes did. Seven of the untreated eyes lost one or more lines of vision, while none of the treated eyes did. Overall, 13 of 16 eyes showed decreased dye accumulation in the macula after treatment. In some eyes, the area showing reduced dye accumulation was more extensive than the area that received treatment directly.