Although temporal
branch retinal vein occlusion has, on the whole, a good prognosis, in about 40% of the patients the outcoming vision is markedly changed. The authors used
argon laser to treat 15 patients suffering from temporal
branch retinal vein occlusion. They analyze their experiences and the results of the treatment of chronic
macular edema and neovascularizations with
argon laser photocoagulation. In 5 of 7 patients with chronic
macular edema, they achieved resorption of the
edema within 2 months after
photocoagulation. They elaborated their own modification of the
laser barrage according to L'Esperance. In more than half the patients, treated for chronic
macular edema, the achieved visual acuity was 6/6-6/9, the worst vision was 6/18. In none of the patients a decrease in visual acuity occurred. In the management of neovascularizations of the retina and the disc of the optic nerve,
argon laser photocoagulation resulted in involution of the neovascularizations in all 3 patients,
vitreous hemorrhage did not occur in any of the eyes. Although the group of the treated patients is only small, the authors consider the treatment of the temporal
branch retinal vein occlusion with
argon laser photocoagulation to be beneficial.