Retinal Laser Coagulation

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Retinal laser coagulation

Content:

• What is laser coagulation?
• Indications for laser coagulation of the retina
• How is laser coagulation performed?
• On the advantages of the laser coagulation method

What is laser coagulation?

Laser coagulation of the retina is a method that is used both for the treatment and prevention of eye diseases associated with vascular rupture or dystrophic changes, as well as for certain types of tumors. In order to prevent visual impairment, this procedure has been increasingly used recently. Laser coagulation prevents retinal tears or retinal detachment, which leads to complete blindness.

Indications for laser coagulation of the retina

In most cases, this is the only way to preserve sight for a person, and this method has no analogues when it comes to problems such as:

• Excessive proliferation of blood vessels in the eye - angiomatosis;
• Vascular pathology of the eye veins;
• Central retinal vein thrombosis;
• Retinal diseases associated with its degenerative changes. This includes retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt's disease, Leber's congenital amaurosis, in a word, all the variety of pathologies that can be combined by the collective term - retinal dystrophy;
• Destructive changes in the retina caused by diabetes mellitus (diabetic retinopathy);
• Malignant and benign retinal tumors;
• Separation of the choroid from the retina, that is, retinal detachment;
• Age-related dystrophy is degenerative changes that occur in the macula.

How is laser coagulation performed?

Retinal laser coagulation surgery is a procedure that is easily tolerated by all patients, regardless of their age and gender. It is performed in an outpatient clinic. It does not require the introduction of general anesthesia, local drip anesthesia is sufficient. At the same time, the patient does not experience stress on blood vessels and heart muscle, which is very important for the elderly. In time, laser coagulation of the retina takes about 20 minutes, during which microsurgeons successfully cope with the task before them. The procedure is absolutely painless and does not cause any discomfort.

The patient does not need to be in the hospital. A short rest period after surgery is enough for him. After examination by an ophthalmologist and in the absence of any abnormalities, the person is allowed to go home. There he can do his usual things, that is, return to his usual way of life. In some cases, immediately after the procedure, the patient may observe the effect of a flash in the eyes, but this phenomenon is temporary, it disappears after a few minutes.

The principle on which the operation is based is retinal tissue coagulation or coagulation under the influence of sharply increased temperatures. This increase is achieved by direct exposure to the laser. Due to the fact that the temperature rises very sharply, a person does not emit blood. The precision of the laser is extremely high, which makes it possible to create fusion between the retina and the choroid.

To carry out coagulation, a lens is used, which allows the radiation to penetrate into the eye as much as possible. In this case, the surgeon controls the course of the operation using a powerful microscope.

The technique for performing the procedure is as follows:

• Local anesthesia is administered to the patient, and special drops are instilled to dilate the pupil;
• The head is fixed using a special apparatus;
• A three-mirror lens or panfundoscope is placed on the cornea;
• A pair of confluent coagulants of moderate intensity is used to limit retinal dystrophy;
• For half an hour, the patient is observed by an ophthalmologist, in case of a successful operation, the patient is immediately released home.

As a preventive measure for complications, a person is offered to avoid increased physical exertion, as well as to refuse to visit the bathhouse and sauna. The limitation period is one week after the operation. This is necessary in order for adequate scars to form in the eye, and dystrophy is reliably limited.

On the first day after the procedure, it is forbidden to use lenses and glasses, as well as strain your eyes by watching TV, working at a computer or reading. If possible, you should give up driving any vehicle. When in the sun, use dark glasses.

Laser coagulation can improve vision, restore blood flow, prevent further detachment and prevent fluid from entering the retina. For preventive purposes, a person who has undergone surgery on the retina of the eye is recommended to visit a specialist annually to monitor the changes taking place.

On the advantages of the laser coagulation method

This method has a number of significant advantages:

• First, it is non-contact. With the help of laser coagulation, it is possible to achieve the normalization of the functions of the retina without opening and penetrating the eyeball. This avoids trauma and completely eliminates the likelihood of infection;
• The complete absence of blood during the procedure and its painlessness - this is another advantage of this modern method of treatment;
• Laser coagulation does not require the introduction of general anesthesia, which allows you to relieve the body of unnecessary stress and stress. In addition, the procedure allows you to preserve vision for people who, in principle, are contraindicated in general anesthesia, for example, those who have serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system or a severe form of diabetes mellitus. Laser coagulation is carried out even for pregnant women and elderly people;
• It is important that the patient does not need to be in the hospital for a long time. The speed of the operation and the absence of a rehabilitation period is another advantage of this method.

As for serious complications, they are not typical for laser coagulation of the retina. If such do occur, it is only in the case of treatment of large areas. The prognosis of therapy is favorable with timely access to an ophthalmologist and a coagulation procedure.

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

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The author of the article: Degtyareva Marina Vitalievna, ophthalmologist, specially for the website ayzdorov.ru