Retinal Laser

What conditions is Retinal Laser used for?

• Diabetic Retinopathy: Laser treatment can be effective for sealing leaking blood vessels and reducing the growth of abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy.
• Retinal Tears and Detachments: Laser treatment can seal retinal tears and prevent retinal detachment by creating scar tissue that adheres to the retina to the underlying tissue.
• Macular Oedema: Laser treatment can help reduce fluid accumulation in the macula (central part of the retina) in conditions like diabetic macular oedema.
• Retinal Blood Vessel Diseases: Laser treatment can target abnormal blood vessels in conditions such as retinal vein occlusion.

Types of Retinal Laser

• Laser Retinopexy: involves using a laser to seal off retinal tears/holes in order to prevent retinal detachment
• Panretinal Photocoagulation (PRP): A specific type of laser photocoagulation used to treat conditions like proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion.
• Focal Laser Treatment: Target specific areas of the retina, such as leaking blood vessels in conditions like diabetic macular oedema.

Retinal Laser Procedure

• Preparation: You'll be positioned comfortably, and the eye to be treated will be numbed using local anaesthesia eye drops.
• Laser Procedure: You will be asked to focus on a target light while the doctor uses a special contact lens or microscope to guide the laser to the targeted areas of the retina.
• Laser Application: The doctor will apply the laser in short bursts of light, creating controlled burns or spots on the retina. You might experience some flashes of light during the procedure.
• Duration: The procedure can typically take 10-15 minutes, depending on the extent of the treatment.