Home - >You are here -> Procedures - Laser Treatments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laser Treatments

What is laser?
Laser is the acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. To state simply, it is a special intense form of light that can be focused into a very fine spot. This focused light can coagulate/cut/melt/evaporate/reshape the tissues.

What are the uses of laser in treating retinal diseases?
Laser is used to seal leaking blood vessels in the retina. It can also be used to seal retinal holes and to coagulate leaking new blood vessels.

 

How is laser treatment done?
Laser treatment is done as an outpatient procedure. The pupils need to be dilated. After instilling local anesthetic drops, a contact lens is inserted into the eye. Laser is usually perceived as bright repetitive flashes. Some types of laser are in the infra red frequency and hence will be in invisible.

Is it painful?
Usually laser treatment is painless. Some discomfort may be experienced. Occasionally pain may be felt. In that case injection of anesthetic can be given to make the treatment painless.

What is the after care required?
The vision will be blurry for some hours. If you had an injection, The eye may be patched for few hours. Avoid heavy physical activity for one to two weeks after laser. You can read and watch television.

What are the results of laser treatment?
Most, but not all patients are benefited by laser. In most diseases of retina, Laser treatment is effective at halting the worsening of the disease. Hence you may not notice dramatic improvement in vision. It takes two to four months for the laser to bring about the changes in the retina.

Are there any risks of laser treatment?
Laser treatment by itself is quite safe. The underlying disease for which the laser is given may not respond well and this might worsen the vision. Very rarely, Laser treatment may accidentally damage the normal tretina in which case mild blurring of vision can occur

LASER TREATMENT FOR VARIOUS DISEASES

Retinal Detachment
Laser surgery can usually be done in the ophthalmologist's office or outpatient surgery center. Special eye drops will be put in your eyes to numb them (topical anesthesia) to reduce any discomfort during the procedure. Often, topical or local anesthesia is all that's needed, but you and your surgeon may decide you need some sedation—medication to make you less anxious—as well. There is little recuperation needed after laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy. Laser surgery may require more than one treatment to be effective.If you have very advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy or retinal detachment, your ophthalmologist may recommend vitrectomy. In vitrectomy, the surgeon removes the blood-filled vitreous and replaces it with a clear solution. This allows light to pass through the clear fluid to the retina, where the images you see are conveyed to the brain.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Laser photocoagulation is one of the most common treatments for diabetic retinopathy. In this kind of surgery, short spots of the laser's beam are directed at the retina to seal leaking blood vessels. Laser treatment is not a "cure all" –the doctor cannot be certain that your vision will remain good-but the treatment works best at [preventing damage before you have actually noticed any problems with vision. The laser beam spots can also be scattered through the sides of the retina to reduce abnormal blood vessel growth (neovascularization) and help seal the retina to the back of the eye.