Is thermal laser photocoagulation a commonly used treatment in wet AMD?

Thermal laser photocoagulation is not commonly used as a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) anymore. This method was once a standard treatment for certain cases as it could effectively reduce the risk of vision loss by targeting and sealing leaking blood vessels. However, advancements in treatment options, particularly the development of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections, have largely supplanted the use of thermal laser photocoagulation. Anti-VEGF therapies have proven to be more effective in managing the progression of wet AMD and in preserving vision by addressing the underlying causes of choroidal neovascularization more effectively.

While there may be rare instances where thermal laser treatment is appropriate—such as in cases of subfoveal lesions that are small and very specific—the general consensus in clinical practice is to prioritize anti-VEGF injections as the primary treatment modality, making thermal laser photocoagulation an infrequent choice in modern therapeutic approaches.