Retinal laser services in Bhutan: a 3-year national survey

The therapeutic benefits of laser were first reported in 1954 [1]. This prompted the invention of xenon-arc laser in 1956 for prophylaxis of retinal detachment (RD), but it was limited by poor focus [2]. The first ophthalmic laser was developed in 1960 using a ruby laser [3] marking a big leap forward in the history of retinal laser therapy (RLT) with its blue and green light emissions [4]. Another milestone was the invention of the 532 nm frequency-doubled neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser [5]. The macular laser treatment is not considered a standard treatment of care anymore, and has been replaced by intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment in many places. However, it may probably still be considered as a treatment option if anti-VEGF treatment is not available or limited for socio-economic reasons. It is reported that anti-VEGFs have significantly superior efficacy to laser photocoagulation in diabetic macular oedema (DMO) [6, 7], retinal vein occlusion (RVO) [8], and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) [9]. In Bhutan, RLT was still considered for retinal disorders such as DMO, diabetic retinopathy (DR), RVO, retinal breaks, ROP, and retinal vasculitis (RV) for economic reasons. The different types of RLT are focal, grid, modified grid, sectoral, scatter, and pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP).

The aim of the current study was to report on the number, indications and types of RLT, including prophylactic laser photocoagulation (PLP) performed in the whole of Bhutan. This is a complementary article to other studies published by the same authors: first, the pattern of vitreoretinal (VR) diseases in Bhutan, which describes about the ocular comorbidities, associated systemic diseases, clinical data, diagnostic tests performed, and treatment strategies [10]; second, rural-urban difference in myopia prevalence in Bhutan, which gives additional information on patient demography [11]; and third, the surgical management of VR diseases in Bhutan [12]. Since this is the first study of RLT in Bhutan, the results have impacts for policy making on the management of VR diseases in Bhutan and other developing countries. It also serves as a baseline study for future research.

Globally, the mortality from non-communicable diseases represented 72.3% of total deaths in 2016 [13]. In Bhutan, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 28% of total mortality in Bhutan was due to cardiovascular disease, and another 17% due to other non-communicable diseases in 2016 [14]. The risk factors included harmful use of alcohol, high salt intake, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use [15]. The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was 8.2 and 26.0% respectively among the urban Bhutanese men and women, and 54.1% of the diabetes population had hypertension [16]. In our study on pattern of VR diseases in Bhutan the coexistent diabetes and hypertension was the commonest systemic disease associated, followed by isolated hypertension and diabetes [10]. The global prevalence of diabetes is reported at 9.3%, with higher prevalence in the high-income (10.4%) than low-income (4.0%) countries [17].

Although the RLT was an established first line therapy for a number of vascular disorders such as DR and DMO [18], RVO [19], RV [20], ROP [21], and Coats’ disease [22], now it is replaced by anti-VEGF injection in developed countries. In Bhutan it is still performed to treat above mentioned diseases for economic reasons.

Our study of the pattern and presentation of VR diseases in Bhutan [10] and a similar study in Nepal [23] reported that the majority of patients were males (60.3 and 53.0% respectively). That trend was followed here for patients receiving RLT, 60.0% of whom were males.

DR/DMO as the most common VR disorder requiring RLT was expected because it was the third most common VR disease in Bhutan [10]. PRP for DR, and focal, grid, and modified grid for DMO were commonly performed in the developing countries for economic reasons. It is still effective in improving vision and arresting progression of DR [18]. RVO was the second most common indication for RLT because RVO, and its risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, are common in Bhutan [10]. In DR/DMO and RVO works by reducing the oxygen demand of the outer retina [24].

We successfully performed PLP in cases of localised TRD and rhegmatogenous RD. This is supported by a study reporting on the efficacy of PLP in such cases [25]. Another effective use of laser is for retinal breaks, lattice degeneration and retinal thinning, preventing occurrence of vision-threatening secondary RD [26]. Similarly, we applied PLP for myopic degeneration and retinal tears due to trauma or tractional force. Comparatively, there were very less cases of retinal break availing PLP. This could partly be explained by the low prevalence of myopia in Bhutan [11]. With increasing prevalence of myopia, including pathological myopia, in South-East Asia [27], and high prevalence of myopia, especially among urbanites in Bhutan [11], there is a growing need for screening and treating such complications to prevent vision threatening complications such as RD.

RV was a common indication for RLT in Bhutan [10]. It is popularly known as Eales’ disease and is associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as its etio-pathogenesis [20]. Tuberculosis is still reported to be common in Bhutan, with a total incidence of 149 cases per 100,000 population in 2018 [28]. Some of the patients receiving RLT for RV were Indian nationals working as labourers in Bhutan, and tuberculosis is reported to be common in India [29].

During early development, the retina lacks blood vessels and depends on the primary vitreous for oxygen and nutrients [30]. The vascularisation of the retina commences at 12 weeks and is nearly completed by 36–40 weeks gestation [21]. This process is dependent on hypoxia-induced production of VEGF [31]. Upon premature delivery, the developing retina faces abrupt withdrawal of maternal IGF-1, and faces a relatively hyperoxic external environment. This down regulates VEGF and erythropoietin, resulting in cessation of vascularisation and vaso-obliteration, leaving the peripheral retina avascular. However, increased metabolic activity of the maturing retina becomes hypoxic, upregulating the whole process and leading to retinal neovascularisation and ROP development [21, 32]. The Early Treatment for ROP (ETROP) has reported favourable outcomes with early treatment and has provided new treatment guidelines [33]. The BEAT-ROP study reported treatment with anti-VEGF is superior to the laser treatment because the anterior segment development is present when treated with anti-VEGF and prevents development of very high myopia [9]. We treated the ROP with RLT due to economic constraints.

CR coloboma is a risk for developing RD and higher recurrence after surgery [34]. We performed PLP successfully, which is reported effective to reduce RD [34].

Coats’ disease, characterised by abnormal telangiectasia, retinal exudation, and serous RD, is a vision-threatening disorder that has poor visual prognosis [35]. We managed them with RLT, although other treatment modalities have been advised including anti-VEGF [36].

PRP was the most common RLT performed in our study because VR diseases requiring PRP such as DR and CRVO were very common in Bhutan [10], and in Nepal too [23]. Similarly, modified grid laser was the second most common laser procedure performed because DR and DMO were common [10]. RLT is still the most common and standard treatment for DR and DMO in developing countries for economic reasons [37]. Sectoral RLT was also commonly performed because of higher prevalence of BRVO, HRBRVO, and RV involving extensive retina [10].

The study has some limitations. This is a retrospective and the first exploratory study on retinal laser services in Bhutan. We do not have the data on visual acuities and outcomes of the RLT procedures. Regular RLT was performed only at the JDWNRH, with only periodic visits to the ERRH and CRRH by the retinal specialist for delivering the services. This might have left out some patients in the eastern and central regions despite a good patient referral system.

Despite being a small country with a population of less than a million [38], Bhutan faces a wide spectrum of VR disorders [10]. Systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension which are risk factors for VR disorders are common and increasing [10]. Although the surgical management of VR diseases in Bhutan utilizes diversified treatment approaches [12], the range of RLT performed in this study through the national VR service is still in the early stages of development. Currently, the VR services are mainly provided at the JDWNRH in Thimphu, with periodic visits by the VR team to the ERRH and CRRH. There is need to expand the VR service to the ERRH and CRRH to cover the eastern and central regions which are particularly challenging because of difficult terrain and poor transport services.