Reduction of immediate complications after panretinal photocoagulation.

With the use of either argon laser or xenon arc panretinal photocoagulation, 42 eyes with diabetic retinopathy were treated in two or more sessions at least 2 weeks apart. In the week following completion of photocoagulation, choroidal detachment was noted in 34 eyes (81%), shallowing of the anterior chamber in 16 eyes (38%), exudative retinal detachment in 5 eyes (12%), and increased intraocular pressure in 3 eyes (7%). These complication rates are lower than those reported in a similar series of 50 eyes in which panretinal photocoagulation was completed in 1-3 days.