Pulsed Dye Laser, a Useful Tool for Management of Vascular Eye Lid Lesions

Aim of Work: To evaluate the role of pulsed dye laser in the treatment of vascular eye lid lesions namely capillary hemangiomas and port-wine stains.Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 18 cases referred to us at the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University Cases were divided into two groups. The first group; fifteen patients with capillary haemangioma (ages 6-14 months) and the 2nd group; three patients with port wine stain (ages 15-25 years). Both groups received treatment with pulsed dye laser with wave length 595nm, energy 5-7 Joules, pulse duration 1.5m.s and spot size 5mm. Multiple sessions were performed according to size and extent of lesion. The number of sessions ranged from 10-20 for hemangioma patients, and 4-7 in port wine stain patients. Cases have been followed-up for 3 years extended to 4 years in case of port wine stain and large haemangiomas.Results: In haemangiomas patients, all fifteen patients (100%) responded to treatment. In port wine stain cases, the 2 patients who kept regular interval visits showed 50% lightening of color after 7 and 6 sessions respectively. In one case there was 25% lightening of color as the patient had longer interval between sessions.Conclusion: Pulsed dye laser, capable of selective photocoagulation and destruction of lesional blood vessels without damage to the surrounding normal, is a very useful and feasible tool that can produce dramatic clearing of port wine stain and hemangiomas with minimal scarring.