AIM: To observe clinical efficacy of argon laser photocoagulation or panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)therapy on plateau diabetic retinopathy(DR), retinal vein occlusion(RVO), and to evaluate security and effectiveness of argon laser treatment of fundus diseases.

METHODS: Totally 122 cases(227 eyes)of DR were selected, including 51 cases(90 eyes)of preproliferative diabetic retinopathy(PPDR), 71 cases(137 eyes)of proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR), 120 cases(124 eyes)of RVO, 27 cases(27 eyes)of central vein occlusion(CRVO), 93 cases(97 eyes)of branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO). They were performed argon laser photocoagulation treatment. The fundus examination, visual acuity and fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)examination of each patient were taken in the end after the last treatment 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: After the retinal photocoagulation on DR patients, operation were effective in 81 eyes(90.0%), ineffective in 9 eyes(10.0%)in PPDR cases; effective in 98 eyes(71.5%), ineffective in 39 eyes(28.5%)in PDR cases, and the total effective rate was 78.9%. After the retinal photocoagulation on RVO patients, operation was effective in 90 eyes(92.8%)in BRVO cases; effective in 22 eyes(81.5%)in CRVO cases. The total effective rate of argon laser(532nm)treatment on retinal vascular disease was 82.9%.

CONCLUSION: Fundus argon laser photocoagulation(532nm)for the vascular fundus diseases in highland area is a safe and effective method in the treatment of DR. The effective rate of laser therapy on PPDR was higher than the proliferative phase, timing of treatment selection can effectively prevent the progression of DR to prevent blindness in serious consequences; timing retinal laser photocoagulation therapeutic intervention on RVO can accelerate hemorrhage and absorption of edema, prevent forming neovascularization and reduce complications.