New Treatments Developed by Dr. Luttrull

The first generally safe and effective treatment for Neovascular and Complicated Glaucoma:
The "PSI" procedure.

Vitreoretinal specialists often encounter patients with severe types of glaucoma due to retinal vascular disease or injury, such as neovascular glaucoma due to diabetes or retinal vein occlusion. Medication and standard glaucoma operations are generally ineffective in such patients. In the past, complete blindness, and often chronic pain, was often unavoidable.

The “Pneumatically Stented Implant”  (PSI) procedure, invented and developed by Dr Luttrull, was published in the journals Retina in 1994 and Ophthalmology in 2000.  As the first generally safe and effective treatment for neovascular and other types of complicated glaucoma, the PSI procedure was recognized by the Vitreoretinal Subspecialty meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology as one of the “Surgical Innovations of the Year” in 1998.  The PSI procedure is now offered by eye institutes around the world and has prevented visual loss and blindness in thousands of patients.

 

Central retinal vein occlusion.

Baerveldt glaucoma implant modified for pars plana
insertion by the “Hoffman elbow.”

Diabetic Retinopathy:  A Revolutionary New Painless,
Non-scarring Laser Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of visual loss in the United States . Traditional laser treatment can prevent or reduce visual loss in patients with complications of diabetic retinopathy. However, conventional laser treatment burns the retina, destroying healthy tissue and leaving permanent scars. This retinal burning can, by itself, lead to visual loss.

Example of typical retinal scarring and damage resulting from conventional laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
Fluorescein angiogram of retinal scarring due to conventional laser for diabetic retinopathy.

Recently, striving to improve the safety and effectiveness of treatment for diabetic retinopathy, Dr. Luttrull developed a revolutionary new laser technique. Published in the January 2005 edition of the British Journal of Ophthalmology and subsequently followed by additional original articles by Dr. Luttrull in other peer review and professional journals, this new treatment, called "Subthreshold Diode Micropulse (SDM) Photocoagulation", employs a special laser that delivers laser energy in micro-second bursts. By delivering the laser in this "micropulsed" fashion, effective laser treatment can be performed in complete safety and comfort. With SDM treatment, the retina is not damaged in any way by treatment. Visual acuity can be preserved or improved, without risk of treatment-associated visual loss.

Black and white fundus photo of vision-threatening diabetic macular edema.	Fluorescein angiogram of same patient with diabetic macular edema.
Black and white fundus photo of same patient after new, non-scarring SDM laser treatment. Macular edema resolved without retinal damage.	Fluorescein angiogram of same patient after new, non-scarring SDM laser treatment. Diabetic macular edema successfully treated and the retina is not damaged in any way by  SMD treatment.