Macular Photocoagulation Study

To the Editor. —In response to Sabates et al, 1 who recently voiced some concerns about the Macular Photocoagulation Study (MPS), 2 we offer the following comments: The authors stated that we did not consider time of treatment as a factor in evaluating the outcome of laser treatment. In fact, the vast majority of patients enrolled in the National Eye Institute-supported Ocular Histoplasmosis Study had newly diagnosed cases. We recognized at the outset of the trial that if laser photocoagulation were to be effective, it would be preferable to treat as early as possible. Consequently, patients with visual symptoms and a new vessel membrane who were considered eligible by the principal investigator were issued treatment assignments by telephone consultation with the MPS Coordinating Center in Baltimore. We agree with the authors that there is no documented evidence that steroids have a role in managing patients with the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.