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Rabbit retinas were treated with low-intensity laser coagulation at five different wavelengths. Using an indirect immunocytochemical method, the retinas were stained for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at 2, 4, 21 and 32 days after coagulation such that we could follow GFAP expression in the Müller cells during retinal repair. GFAP-positive staining was found in the end feet of the Müller cells at 2 days after laser coagulation. GFAP immunoreactivity was observed throughout the Müller cells, surrounding the central necrotic tissue, at days 4, 21 and 32 after laser coagulation. Scar tissue in the subretinal space at days 21 and 32, which was more pronounced for the longer wavelengths produced by the Krypton and Nd-YAG lasers, also showed GFAP immunoreactivity. The Müller cells remained GFAP-immunoreactive for at least 32 days after laser coagulation.

Three eyes with preretinal macular fibrosis (PMF) were treated with the Q-switched Nd-YAG laser. The PMF was idiopathic in two eyes and associated with a vitreous hemorrhage, due to ocular trauma, in the third eye. The three eyes had in common a partial posterior vitreous detachment with vitreous traction on the macula. The Nd-YAG laser beam was focused on the detached posterior hyaloid in front of the macular region. Some holes were made in this membrane or in the adjacent collapsed vitreous cortex. Treatment increased the visual acuity in the three eyes; the vitreous remained partially detached in the two eyes with idiopathic PMF and detached completely in the eye with the secondary PMF. The disentanglement of the fovelar area was revealed by the unfolded appearance of the retinal vessels on fluoangiography.