Endophotocoagulation.

Abstract

A system was developed for transvitreal application of photocoagulation using a fiberoptic probe attached to a portable xenon arc coagulator (endophotocoagulation, EPC). The system is activated by a footswitch, and the probe tip is positioned near the retina after performing a pars plana vitrectomy. This technique can be used to treat posterior retinal breaks, stop retinal bleeding, coagulate retinal neovascularization, apply scatter retinal photocoagulation in certain diabetic eyes, treat some of the ciliary processes in eyes with neovascular glaucoma, and enlarge the pupil in eyes with iris neovascularization and miosis. Endophotocoagulation was used in 169 eyes for one or more of these indications and found to be safe and reliable.