Significance: Photoreceptor cell death resulting from retinal detachment (RD) causes significant visual loss. While the immune system is activated during RD, its role is still unclear. Microglia are resident immune cells in the retina and are thought to be either protective or deleterious in response to neuronal injury, suggesting context-dependent effects. Here, we demonstrate that microglia limit retinal damage during acute injury, since microglial ablation led to increased photoreceptor death. Microglial morphological–activation changes triggered their migration into injured tissue where they formed intimate connections with infiltrating immune cells and phagocytized injured photoreceptors. These findings provide insight into the microglial response and function during RD, indicating microglia promote photoreceptor survival during acute phase injury by removing potentially damaging cell debris.

Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is a mainstay of therapy for retinal ischemic disease. The procedure involves creating thermal burns in the peripheral retina leading to tissue coagulation, the overall consequence of which is improved retinal oxygenation. While highly effective, there have been concerns historically regarding the anatomic effects and visual complications following PRP, the most common of which include choroidal effusions, exudative retinal detachments, macular edema, visual field deficits, and night vision defects. The occurrence of these complications is closely tied to laser parameters such as increased duration and power and intensive treatment in a single sitting, all of which cause increased dispersion of thermal energy within the retina and choroid. The advent of newer laser delivery systems, such as the multispot pattern laser, has greatly mitigated but not eliminated these issues. The following article reviews the most common complications following PRP treatment, including reported occurrences, inciting factors, and underlying pathophysiology.

Research from JAMA Ophthalmology — Intravenous Infusion of Liposomal Benzoporphyrin Derivative for Photodynamic Therapy of Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization