Clinical experience with a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope laser delivery system.

A binocular indirect ophthalmoscope argon laser delivery system was used to treat 100 selected patients with a variety of retinal disorders. The laser was found to be particularly valuable in photocoagulating the retinal periphery, because scleral depression could easily be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, laser treatment was facilitated in eyes that dilated poorly, such as those with rubeosis iridis, and eyes with focal lens opacities requiring panretinal photocoagulation. Infirm or anesthetized patients who could not sit at a slit lamp could also be treated. Disadvantages included difficulty in accurately aiming the laser beam and instabilities inherent in the system that make it unsuitable for the treatment of macular diseases.