Laser

What is Laser?

Laser treatment of the retina (photocoagulation) uses a high intensity beam of light that is a concentrated single wavelength absorbed by specific layers at the back of the eye.

The individual low intensity beams are able to pass through non-retinal tissues without damaging them. The retinal tissues selectively absorb the laser light energy, allowing the operation to be performed without affecting the surrounding tissues.

Lasers are most commonly used for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, vein occlusion, retinal tears and early retinal detachment.

Laser retinopexy can be combined with pneumatic retinopexy for larger retinal detachments. It is usually performed a day after the gas bubble in injected and once the retina has been flattened enough to allow laser absorption around the break.

The laser is focused on the attached retina around the retinal break. Laser spots are placed in multiple rows around the break to seal the retina and prevent it from re-detaching.