Robert Casson, Grant Raymond, Henry Newland, Jolly Gilhotra, Tim Gray, Jim Runciman, Nandor Jaross, Malcolm Plunkett

Purpose: The Retinal Regeneration Therapy (2RT) laser is a new nanopulse retinal laser that experimen-tally causes minimal injury to sensory retina at clini-cally relevant settings.
Methods: We compared the safety and efficacy of 2RT with photocoagulative (control) laser in a pilot, prospective, 6-month, randomized, non-inferiority study.
Results: There were 22 eyes in the 2RT group and 18 in the control group. The mean retinal thickness change in the 2RT group was ?35 ± 76 ?m, and in the control group was ?28 ± 57 ?m. The OCT difference by ANCOVA regression was 2.9 ?m (in favour of con-trols) with a one-sided 95% CI of ?29.6 ?m. The cor-responding 6-month mean change in VAs were 0.12 ± 0.11 and 0.28 ± 0.10, respectively. The VA difference by ANCOVA regression was ?0.02 (1 letter improve-ment in favour of 2RT) with a one-sided 95% CI such that 2RT was no more than 2 letters worse than the control laser). The safety profile of 2RT was excellent.
Conclusions: In this pilot study, 2RT was safe and at least as clinically effective in the treatment of DME as conventional laser. Given that 2RT causes minimal injury to overlying retina, and can potentially treat edema closer to the fovea compared to photocoagula-tion, 2RT warrants further evaluation in a larger study.
Disclosures:RJ Casson: F, R, EllexG Raymond: NH Newland: NJ Gilhotra: NT Gray: NJ Runciman: C EllexN Jaross: NM Plunkett: I; P; E Ellex