Laser treatment of drusen to prevent progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration

Drusen are amorphous yellowish deposits beneath the sensory retina. People with drusen, particularly extensive large drusen, are at higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The most common complications in AMD are the growth of new blood vessels in the centre of the macula (choroidal neovascularisation or CNV also known as 'wet AMD') and loss of photoreceptors (geographic atrophy). It has been observed clinically that laser photocoagulation of drusen leads to their disappearance. Laser photocoagulation of drusen has thus been proposed as a way to prevent the development of CNV and geographic atrophy. This review included data from nine trials of moderate quality. These studies confirmed the clinical observation that laser photocoagulation of drusen leads to their disappearance. However, there was no evidence that laser photocoagulation of drusen reduced the risk of developing CNV, geographic atrophy or visual acuity loss.