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.