This laser treatment, also known as photocoagulation, can stop or slow the leakage of blood and fluid in the eye. During the procedure, leaks from abnormal blood vessels are treated with laser burns and treatment is usually done in a single session.
After the procedure your vision will be blurry for about a day or so. Sometimes you will be aware of small spots in your visual field that are related to the laser treatment and usually disappear within weeks. If you had blurred vision from swelling of the central macula before surgery, however, you may not recover completely normal vision. But, in some cases, vision does improve.
What is Panretinal Photocoagulation Laser (PRP) surgery?
Panretinal photocoagulation laser surgery is performed in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients to prevent severe vitreous haemorrhage and blindness. The laser causes regression of the abnormal blood vessels which grow at the back of the eye on the retina in diabetic patients.
Each session takes approximately fifteen to twenty minutes and multiple sessions are required. Usually three to four sessions per eye is required to treat the proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
There is some discomfort during the laser, and analgesics such as Panadol or Panadeine may be taken before the laser session.
The eye may be irritated and blurred for a few days following the laser surgery.
With time, you may notice some decrease in night vision and peripheral vision. This occurs due to the laser treatment, but is necessary in order to control the proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Focal Laser
