The first experience of subthreshold nanosecond laser treatment for intermediate age-related macular degeneration

Purpose. To present a clinical case of the first experience of subthreshold nanosecond laser treatment for an intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods. A 70-year-old patient T. diagnosed with intermediate AMD, underwent subthreshold nanosecond laser exposure using a 2RT device (Ellex, Australia). The patient underwent multimodal diagnostics, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, fundus ophthalmoscopy, short-wave and infrared autofluorescence, infrared light imaging, multispectral laser scanning and optical coherence tomography at the baseline, 1- and 3-month follow-up. Results. No significant changes were observed at 1-month follow-up. 3 months after 2RT, the patient noted a subjective improvement in the contrast and quality of vision, while BCVA increased from 0.7 to 0.8. When performing OCT scans in followup mode, the disappearance of a number of large confluent drusen in the area nasal to the fovea was noted. A decrease in retinal thickness was also observed in this area due to the resorption of large confluent drusen. The infrared imaging and autofluorescence showed no changes in retinal pigment epithelium and no appearance hypoautofluorescence of atrophic zones. Conclusion. The first experience of subthreshold nanosecond laser treatment of intermediate AMD revealed a potential positive functional and structural outcome in case of the presence of large confluent drusen. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed.