The doctors at Bennett & Bloom Eye Centers are specialists in laser surgery—we’ve even written two books about it!
The laser is an instrument that produces a pure, high-intensity beam of light energy. The laser light can be precisely focused onto the retina (the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye), selectively treating the desired area while leaving the surrounding tissues untouched. The absorbed energy creates a microscopic spot to destroy lesions or weld tissues together.
Laser surgery is usually painless and performed in our office while you remain awake and comfortable. Laser treatment can often preserve vision or prevent vision loss if given in a timely fashion.
A laser is an instrument that produces a pure, high-intensity beam of light energy. The laser light can be focused onto the retina, selectively treating the desired area while leaving the surrounding tissues untouched. The absorbed energy creates a microscopic spot to destroy lesions or weld tissues together.
Lasers were first widely used to treat eye diseases in the early 1970s and have become the standard of care for previously untreatable disorders. For many patients, the laser can preserve or prevent vision loss if given in a timely fashion.
Your eye will almost always look and feel normal with retinal diseases, even when there is hemorrhaging and leakage in the back of your eye. Your sight may also be normal for a while despite the presence of potentially blinding eye problems.
The only way to tell if you need laser surgery is to have a careful, dilated retinal examination, often followed by special testing including OCT scanning and fluorescein angiography. Lasers are commonly used to treat the following eye conditions:
Diabetes causes circulation problems throughout the body, including the eyes, nerves, and kidneys. The retinal blood vessels are usually like pipes, bringing blood into and out of the back of the eye. In diabetes, however, the vessels may leak, causing the retina to swell and not work properly (diabetic macular edema). Vision is affected when the swelling involves the central vision area. Laser surgery can seal the leaks, thereby preventing further vision loss. Some patients will have new retinal blood vessels grow to replace some which have closed from diabetes (proliferative diabetic retinopathy). While this sounds helpful, these new blood vessels can cause blindness from bleeding and scarring. Laser treatment can often prevent severe vision loss by making these new vessels disappear.
The small blood vessels that drain blood from the retina (retinal veins) can sometimes become blocked as part of the aging process. This is more common in patients with diabetes or high blood pressure. A retinal vein occlusion can cause the retina to swell with fluid and blood, blurring central and peripheral vision. Other times, new blood vessels may grow and cause pain with very high pressure inside the eye (neovascular glaucoma). Laser treatment can help reduce this swelling or cause the new blood vessels to disappear.
The retina lines the back of the eye like wallpaper. Retinal tears or holes can occur from congenital retinal thinning, as part of aging, or following cataract surgery or eye injury. Patients will often see cobweb-like floaters or light flashes when a retinal break develops. The liquid that normally fills the central portion of the eye (the vitreous) can leak beneath the break, lifting the retina away from the eyewall. This is called a retinal detachment, which can cause blindness if left untreated. Laser surgery around retinal tears is often able to weld the retina to the underlying eyewall. This can prevent or limit retinal detachment.
There are no special preparations before eye laser treatment. You should eat normally and take your regularly prescribed medications before surgery.
Retinal laser surgery is performed in our office. Eye drops will be given to dilate the pupil and numb the eye. The treatment is performed while you are seated in a chair, similar to the one used for regular eye examinations. You will remain awake and comfortable. Treatment is usually painless, although some patients may rarely require a numbing injection for discomfort or sensitivity to the laser light.
The laser treatment usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and you can go home immediately following surgery. Arrangements for transportation should be made in advance since you may not be able to drive right away.
There are virtually no restrictions following retinal laser surgery, and you should be able to resume your normal activities and work schedule the following day.
Most patients notice no vision changes following their laser surgery, although there may be some temporary blurring for several weeks to months. In addition, depending on the condition being treated, some may notice a permanent blind spot or decrease in peripheral and night vision.
It will take several weeks to months before we can tell whether laser surgery has been successful. Many patients, however, will need more than one treatment to control their eye problem and prevent further loss of vision.
