Clinicopathologic correlation of krypton red, argon blue-green, and argon green laser photocoagulation in the human fundus.

One day before the scheduled enucleation for a choroidal melanoma, a patient agreed to have experimental laser burns placed in her fundus for the purpose of comparing the histopathologic effects of krypton red, argon green, and argon blue-green laser photocoagulation. When photocoagulation burns were applied to simulate treatment for a juxtafoveal choroidal neovascular membrane ( NVM ) there was relative inner retinal sparing with krypton red and transretinal effects with argon green. When treatment was applied outside the macula to simulate scatter or panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), there were no differences in histopathologic effect. This suggests that krypton red laser photocoagulation may be advantageous in treating juxtafoveal neovascular membranes, but is of no particular advantage when treating outside the macula.