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A significant advance in treating retinal conditions has been the development and evolution of laser technology. With the ability to generate specific wavelengths of focused light energy, lasers can perform surgical procedures with an unparalleled level of precision and without affecting the adjacent, non-targeted tissue.
For retinal specialists, lasers are frequently employed to treat leaky blood vessels, tack down the retina, or destroy damaged retinal tissue and protect the healthy areas.
Although a retinal tear may not cause visual field defects or reduce visual acuity, it can progress to a retinal detachment. Demarcation laser photocoagulation offers a prophylactic approach to address a retinal tear to reduce risk of progression into a retinal detachment that may necessitate a more invasive intraocular surgical procedure. While it does not repair the torn retina, it walls off the area to help prevent further progression.
Diabetic macular edema, a main feature of diabetic retinopathy, is characterized by increased blood vessel leakage in the central part of the retina. It remains a leading cause of central vision impairment in diabetic patients. Although focal/grid laser photocoagulation can, according to statistics, reduce moderate vision loss from DME, current anti-VEGF drugs can provide better outcomes with respect to visual acuity gains. Even so, in some cases, macular laser therapy still plays a vital role in care. A combination of injection therapy and laser treatment can improve overall outcomes while reducing the number of anti-VEGF injections needed.
In advanced diabetic retinopathy, also known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR); new, abnormal blood vessels develop in the retina. Because these blood vessels are fragile, they can bleed and cause scarring and results in retinal detachment with potential vision loss. Laser photocoagulation applies light energy to the retina to help stop the growth and development of new blood vessels and preserve vision.
