laser treatments

 
 

Laser Treatments

Green Thermal Laser

Green thermal laser treatments involves directing a concentrated hot beam of green light onto the retina, the film at the back of the eye. Previously known as “argon laser”, this type of green thermal laser acts to seal leaking blood vessels or retinal tissue.

The thermal laser treatment can dry up abnormal bleeding in the retina and vitreous and leaking capillaries. It can stop blindness from retinal tear or detached retina.

Conditions that can be treated by thermal laser include:

  • Retinal Tears, Holes and Limited Retinal Detachment

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Retinal Vein Occlusion

  • Retinal Haemorrhage

  • Vitreous Haemorrhage

  • Choroidal Neovascularization

treatment using green thermal laser for some eye conditions may not improve vision but hold the vision steady and stop patients from losing eyesight.

Indirect Laser

Indirect laser treatments are another mode of delivering thermal or “hot” laser where a retina specialist uses an indirect ophthalmoscope (an instrument used to view the peripheral part of the retina) to focus the laser light onto the retina.

Indirect laser treatments are most useful for peripheral retinal conditions such as peripheral retinal tear or retinal detachment since this method offers a wider field of view of the retina.

Conditions treated by Indirect laser include:

  • Retinal Tear, Hole and Limited Retinal Detachment

  • Peripheral Retinal Haemorrhage

  • Vitreous Haemorrhage

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) are a special type of “cold” laser treatments for blood vessel disorders of the retina and choroid (the network of blood vessels underneath the retina). It involves injecting a light-sensitive medication, called Verteporfin, into the bloodstream. A special, non-thermal or “cold” laser then activates the medication in specific areas of the eye and seals off the blood vessels that are causing damage to the vision. The healthy tissue is spared from as much damage from the laser as the diseased tissue, reducing the scarring to more normal parts of the retina and choroid.

Conditions treated by Photodynamic Therapy include:

  • Wet Macular Degeneration

  • Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (variant of Wet Macular Degeneration)

  • Central Serous Retinopathy

  • Vascular Tumours of the eye e.g. Choroidal Haemangioma

See Also YAG Laser Treatments

See Also Multispot Micropulse Yellow Laser

See Also Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty