The laser has been a powerful treatment option for ophthalmologists for many decades but it seems to have lost its significance since the advent of anti-VEGF drugs. Today, for many proliferative retinal diseases, anti-VEGF medications have been approved and are used as an initial stage of therapy. An example of this might be seen in diabetic retinopathy (DR), in which laser photocoagulation, the previous gold standard for DR therapy, lost its significance in recent years. Despite these trends, up to 50% of patients do not sufficiently benefit from anti-VEGF therapy. This raises questions on how to improve anti-VEGF treatment plans with existing options, perhaps by complementing them with laser photocoagulation. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect of combining laser photocoagulation with anti-VEGF drugs. Other promising developments include the improvement of the way laser therapy is administered or use alternative pulse rates or laser wavelengths in the treatment of retinal proliferative diseases.

Today, anti-VEGF is considered in almost all ocular diseases that present with neovascularization or increased vascular permeability. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is another example where laser therapy may be on the edge of being replaced by anti-VEGF. In age related macular degeneration, some studies showed a beneficial effect of treating drusen with laser photocoagulation.

Newer laser techniques, including pattern laser and computer guided laser systems, have been developed and are making their way into clinical practice. Some studies suggest an advantage to using these systems over standard laser systems.

We are therefore interested in articles handling topics that are related to retinal laser therapy or therapeutic approaches that combine any treatment with retinal laser photocoagulation for retinal neovascular diseases.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Combination of anti-VEGF and laser photocoagulation
• The possible use of lasers in retinal diseases such as age related macular degeneration or central serous chorioretinopathy
• Laser photocoagulation and/or anti-VEGF in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
• Combination of any drug treatment with laser photocoagulation
• Comparison of micropulse versus standard pulsed laser systems
• Computer guided laser treatments in rare retinal vascular diseases
• Facilitation of subthreshold micropulse laser therapy
• Temperature controlled laser systems