Retinal Lasers

30 Jul Retinal Lasers

Lasers are specialised narrow beams of light that have the ability to precisely focus on the target area.
Due to the precise control they offer in the hands of the surgeon, they have been used for various purposes in medicine, especially in Ophthalmology.
There are various types of lasers and each laser has a different role to play in the treatment of eye diseases like cataract, glaucoma, retina, etc.

In retina, mainly the Green lasers or the Red lasers are used. Depending on the purpose for which they are used in various retinal diseases.
Laser procudures are not surgeries and are carried out in the out patient department only. After adequate dilatation, the patient is asked to sit or lie down (depending on the type of laser) and anesthetic drops are put in the eye. Laser shots are given at repeated intervals till the treatment is complete.
There is usually no or mild pain. On occasion though some sensitive eyes could feel a stinging sensation in the eye or the head that is monmentary only.
There are no precautions to be taken either before or after the laser treatment.
Multiple such sittings may be needed based on the disease condition.

Pan Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP) laser: Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Venous Occlusions, Vasculitis, etc.
Barrage laser: Retinal degenerations, Retinal holes, Sub-clinical Retinal Detachments
Grid and Focal Laser: Diabetic Maculopathy
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Age-Related macular Degeneration, Idiopathic Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (IPCV)
ROP Lasers: Retinopathy of Prematurity