To investigate the effect of focal and grid pattern PASCAL photocoagulation treatment in diabetic macular edema patients.

A total of 72 patients (75 eyes) who were diagnosed as diabetic macular edema were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1 (31 patients, 31 eyes) received an intravitreal bevacizumab injection, group 2 (17 patients, 20 eyes) underwent focal and grid pattern PASCAL photocoagulation treatment, and group 3 (24 patients, 24 eyes) underwent focal and grid pattern argon photocoagulation treatment. Macular thickness and visual acuity (logMAR) of 75 eyes were compared among groups before and after treatments.

Visual acuity improved in 13 eyes (65.0%) in group 1, 16 eyes (51.6%) in group 2, and in 10 eyes (41.6%) in group 3; however, there was no statistical significance. Macular thickness reduction occurred in 24 eyes (77.4%) in group 1 and 13 eyes (65.0%) in group 2 which were statistically significant decreases at only 1 month after treatment ( p < 0.05).

Focal and grid pattern PASCAL photocoagulation is a good therapeutic option for diabetic macular edema. Focal and grid pattern PASCAL photocoagulation is as effective as intravitreal bevacizumab injection or focal and grid pattern argon photocoagulation treatment.