November 18, 2019 | Author: Admin
The retina is attached to the back of the eye. In retinal detachment, the retina gets peeled from the back of the eye leading to an alteration in the vision. This is an emergency condition and the patient should promptly consult with a retina specialist in Mumbai. Any delay in the treatment may either worsen the vision or lead to loss of vision. There are various methods for treating retinal detachment. Laser surgery is one of the best methods to treat retinal detachment. Apart from its use in treating retinal detachment, retinal laser surgery, also known as retinal photocoagulation is used to treat various other conditions related to the retina.
Photocoagulation or retinal laser surgery is used to treat various retinal disorders such as retinal tears, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, and macular edema. In diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, the surgery is done to destroy those blood vessels of the retina that are leaking. In the process of treating retinal tears, the laser surgery seals retinal tears and destroys any abnormal structure on the retina thereby preventing the progression of the disease.
Although laser surgery may not revive the already lost vision but it will ensure the prevention of further damage thus preserving the remaining vision. Various pigments in the eye are responsible for the absorption of laser light. These pigments include hemoglobin, xanthophyll, and melanin. As these pigments absorb the light, the temperature of the retinal layer increases leading to necrosis and denaturation of the cellular proteins.
Photocoagulation is used in a variety of retinal conditions such as:
Photocoagulation is a minimally invasive laser surgery and like any other surgery, it carries an inherent risk. The side effects and complications related to retinal laser surgery is largely due to the burning of the retinal tissue. The patient undergoing retinal laser surgery may experience the following complications:
However, it is to be noted that the risk involves mild loss of vision whereas if the retinal disorder remains untreated it may lead to complete loss of vision. Retinal laser surgery is a minimally invasive surgery and thus there is very little risk of infection.
Photocoagulation surgery is highly effective in preventing further loss of vision. It helps in reattaching the detached portion of the retina. It is to be noted that although the vision after the surgery is not the same when compared to the vision before retinal detachment it helps to reduce the complications and further retinal damage.
The appropriate candidates requiring retinal laser surgery are selected after comprehensively analyzing retinal health. If the patient suffers from retinal detachment or retinal tear and there is an immediate risk of vision loss, laser surgery is recommended. Apart from the retinal detachment, patients suffering from the Age-related macular degeneration, retinal tumors, blocked retinal vessels, diabetic retinopathy, and macular edema are also the candidate for laser surgery if they have a potential risk of permanent vision loss.
As the procedure involves the health of one of the most vital organs of the body thus ample care is required while performing the procedure to prevent any complication. The surgery is done under topical anesthesia. While some patients require topical anesthesia, injectable anesthesia is used in other patients. The laser is delivered to the retina either through the sclera or the cornea. A contact lens is placed on the corneal surface of the patient through which the laser is fired on the retina. The patient is placed in a supine position when the surgery is performed through the endolaser delivery system and while performing through the slit lamp, the patient should be in a sitting position.
There may be mild blurring of vision and the patient may experience floaters. However, the floaters may subside and will not interfere with the vision. Many patients have blurry vision for 24 hours after the surgery. The patient may also have mild pain for 24 to 48 hours after the surgery. As the eyes are under anesthesia for a few hours after surgery, the patient should accompany someone to drive him home.
To learn more about treating retinal diseases and preventing vision loss, be sure to contact a Retina Specialist in Mumbai and Retina Surgeon in Mumbai. The team of Retina Specialist at Ojas Eye Hospital can be reached by phone at (+91) 9137462795.