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Laser photocoagulation of the retina

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What is laser photocoagulation?

Laser retina coagulation is the method that is used for the treatment and prevention of eye diseases associated with the rupture of blood vessels or degenerative changes and in some types of tumors. Prevention of visual impairment in recent years, increasingly began to apply this procedure. Laser photocoagulation to prevent retinal tear or detachment, which leads to complete blindness.


Indications for laser coagulation of the retina

In most cases, this is the only way to keep a man, and this method has no analogues when it comes to such problems as:

  • Excessive growth eye blood vessels – angiomatosis;
  • Vascular pathology of the ocular veins;

  • Thrombosis of Central vein of retina;

  • Diseases of the retina associated with degenerative changes in her. This includes retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of Stargardt, congenital Leber amaurosis, in short, all the diversity of pathologies that can unite a collective term for degeneration of the retina;

  • Destructive changes of the retina caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy);

  • Malignant and benign tumors of the retina;
  • The separation of the choroid from the net, that is, retinal detachment;
  • Age-related degeneration and degenerative changes in the macula.

How is laser photocoagulation?

Surgery laser retina coagulation is a procedure which can easily tolerate all patients, regardless of their age and gender. It is performed in outpatient conditions. For it does not require the introduction of General anesthesia, a local anesthesia drip. If the patient does not feel pressure on the blood vessels and heart muscle, which is very important for the elderly. At the time of laser coagulation of the retina takes about 20 minutes, during which microsurgeonssuccessfully cope with this challenge. The procedure is absolutely painless and does not cause discomfort.

The patient is not required to stay in the hospital. It is enough a short period of time to rest after surgery. After inspection by the doctor, and in the absence of any abnormalities of the person to go home. There he can do normal things, that is, to return to normal life. In some cases, immediately after the procedure the patient can see the flash effect in the eyes, but it's only temporary, it passes after a few minutes.

The principle on which is based the operation – folding of the tissues of the retina or its coagulation under the influence of sharply increased temperatures. This increase is achieved through direct laser exposure. Due to the fact that the temperature rises very sharply, the man doesn't release blood. The accuracy of the laser exposure is extremely high, allowing you to create adhesion between the retina and vascular membranes of the eye.

For carrying out coagulation used lens that allows the maximum radiation can penetrate inside the eye. The surgeon monitors the progress of the operation with the help of powerful microscope.

Technique the procedure is the following:

  • The patient is administered local anesthesia, and dripped drops designed to dilate pupils;
  • The head is fixed using a special device;
  • On the cornea is placed three-mirror lens or panendoscopy;
  • A pair of drain coagulants moderate intensity is the limitation of retinal degeneration;
  • For half an hour of patient watching ophthalmologist, in case of successful operation the patient can go home immediately.

As a prevent complications a person offer to avoid high physical loads, and to refuse to visit the baths and saunas. The time limit is one week after surgery. This is necessary to ensure that the eye formed an adequate scarring, and degeneration is reliably limited.

On the first day after the procedure is prohibited to use contact lenses and glasses, as well as to strain your eyes watching TV, computer work or reading. If possible, you should give up driving any vehicle. While on the sun it is necessary to use glasses with dark lenses.

Laser photocoagulation improves vision, to restore blood flow to prevent further delamination and to prevent the ingress of fluid under the retina. In the preventive purposes the person undergoing surgery on the retinaeyes recommend annual visit to a specialist to monitor the ongoing changes.

About the advantages of the method of laser coagulation

This method has a number of serious advantages:

  • First, it is non-contact. With coagulation, the laser can achieve the normalization of the functions of the retina without opening and penetration into the eyeball. This allows you to avoid trauma and eliminates the risk of infection;

  • The complete lack of blood during the procedure and painless – that's another advantage of this modern method of treatment;

  • Laser photocoagulation does not require administration of General anesthesia, which allows to rid the body of unnecessary burdens and stress. In addition, the procedure allows to preserve the eyesight for people who, in principle, contraindicated General anesthesia, for example, having serious pathology of the cardiovascular system or a severe form of diabetes. Laser coagulation is carried out even to pregnant women and elderly people;

  • It is important that the patient no need to be a long time in the hospital. The speed of the operation and the lack of rehabilitation period, another advantage of this method.

As for serious complications, they are not characteristic of coagulation of the retina with a laser. If any arise, only in the case of treatment of extensive areas. Prediction of therapy is favorable with timely treatment to the ophthalmologist and the procedure coagulation.

The minimum set of contraindications, high efficiency and quick rehabilitation process have made this method most frequently used for the treatment of pathological conditions of the retina.