Laser treatments for retinal conditions
When and why retinal laser is used, and what to expect.
Why laser treatment?
Retinal laser is used for three main purposes: to treat a retinal tear and reduce the risk of retinal detachment; to manage or reduce the risk of abnormal new blood vessel growth; and to reduce macular oedema (fluid leakage) at the centre of the retina.
Laser for abnormal blood vessels
Retinal laser may be advised if you have had a vitreous haemorrhage, if abnormal new blood vessels are seen, or if a fluorescein angiogram shows significant areas of poor retinal circulation. The laser deliberately destroys some peripheral retina to reduce its oxygen demands, which in turn reduces the stimulus for abnormal blood vessel growth and can cause existing abnormal vessels to shrink.
Laser treatment in patients with high-risk diabetic features reduces the risk of severe visual loss from around 30% to around 15% in the two years after treatment.
Risks
Laser can reduce peripheral field and night vision. In rare cases, central sight can be affected if fluid gathers in the central retina. These risks must be weighed against the potential benefits of protecting central vision.
What to expect
Most laser treatment is done in the outpatient clinic, sitting at a slit lamp with numbing drops. A special contact lens is held on the eye, and the laser is focused through it. You will notice bright flashes but it is not usually painful.
Some patients who cannot tolerate outpatient laser, or who need extensive treatment, may have it done under local or general anaesthetic as a day-case procedure.