Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy

Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy is a medical procedure used to manage and slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is a common and potentially sight-threatening complication of diabetes if not treated effectively.

Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy is an outpatient procedure that is highly effective to slow and stop the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Depending on the severity of your condition, you, may need several laser treatments. Laser treatment does not improve your vision but can help to stabilize the changes caused by diabetes, preventing your vision from getting worse.

Who needs laser treatment?

Laser treatment is typically recommended for patients with:

• Macular Edema: The macula is a small, specialized area of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It is responsible for central vision, which is vital for detailed vision such as reading, writing and driving, and recognizing faces. Macular edema occurs when blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the macula, causing it to swell and thicken. This leakage disrupts the normal structure of the macula and leads to blurred or distorted vision. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common causes of macular edema.
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: When new blood vessels have begun to grow on the retina, it increases the risk of bleeding and severe vision loss.

What are the types of laser treatment?

1. Focal or Grid Laser Treatment (Photocoagulation): This method is used primarily to treat macular edema.  The laser is focused on specific leaking blood vessels to seal them, reducing the fluid leakage and thereby controlling the swelling in the macula. It also reduces the growth of new blood vessels and halts inflammation. More than one treatment may be required.
2. Panretinal Photocoagulation: This procedure is used to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a more advanced stage where new, abnormal blood vessels start to grow on the retina. These vessels are fragile and prone to bleeding, which can lead to severe vision loss. In this procedure, the laser is applied to the edges of the retina. This creates tiny burns that cause the abnormal blood vessels to shrink and prevent further growth. The goal is to preserve central vision especially when performed early, thereby reducing the risk of severe vision loss.

What to expect

Before the procedure

• You will undergo a complete eye exam. This might include imaging tests such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) or fluorescein angiography, where a dye is injected into your arm, and pictures are taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in your retina. These tests help your ophthalmologist determine the severity of the diabetic retinopathy and plan the treatment.
• On the day of the procedure, you have someone drive you to the office and pick you us because your vision will likely be blurry. You should also take time off work for a few days.
• You will receive eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupils. This helps the ophthalmologist get a better view of the retina. and numbing eye drops to ensure that you don’t feel any pain during the laser treatment. In some cases, a special contact lens might be placed on your eye to help focus the laser.

The Procedure

The procedure typically takes 10-40 minutes, depending on the extent of the treatment needed. During the procedure, you will sit in front of a specialized laser device. The ophthalmologist will direct the laser beams at specific areas of your retina. The laser pulses create small burns on the retinal tissue, either sealing leaking blood vessels or reducing the growth of abnormal blood vessels. You might see flashes of light during the procedure, but you should not feel pain due to the numbing drops.

After the Procedure

• Immediately after the procedure, your vision might be blurry, and you could experience some difficulty focusing. This is usually temporary and should improve within a few hours to a few days.
• Your eyes may be more sensitive to light for a few hours after the treatment, so bringing sunglasses to wear afterward is a good idea.
• You might feel some mild discomfort or a gritty sensation in your eye after the procedure. Over-the-counter pain relief can help if needed, but this discomfort usually resolves within a day or two.

Regular eye examinations will continue to be important after the treatment to monitor the health of your eyes. While laser treatment can significantly reduce the risk of severe vision loss, some changes in vision are common, especially in peripheral or night vision. These changes are often manageable and should be discussed with your Union Square ophthalmologist if they become bothersome.

Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy is a well-established and effective procedure for managing this serious condition, but ongoing care and management of your diabetes are essential to maintain the best possible outcomes for your vision.

Schedule an appointment today.

If you have diabetes, it is essential an annual eye exam to ensure you do not have diabetic retinopathy. If you are having vision difficulties it also essential to call us to schedule an exam to diagnose your problem. Union Square Eye Care has two offices, one in Union Square and the other in Harlem for your convenience. We treat patients from Greenwich Village, Soho, and Midtown Manhattan, focusing on preserving vision and improving your quality of life through tailored treatment plans. Call us today to schedule an exam today with one of our esteemed eye experts.