Laser surgery on retina
Common Questions and Answers about Laser surgery on retina
laser
had retina detachments in both eyes - left eye had 3 detachments 5 operations leaving me with 2400 vision - right eye has one detachment repaired 2+ years ago - now have scar tissue in that eye from cataract surgery which accompanied my retina surgery.
The causes can be due to vitreous tug and traction on the retina and/or can be due to scar formation and contraction. The laser works by forming a burn that scars and the scars seal the holes shut.
The fluid is present under the retina and is what detaches the retina. The fluid enters through the hole. You can have a hole without fluid and without RD. Those can be treated with laser or freezing (cryotherapy). If a lot of fluid and RD the fluid must be drained.
DearLarryx,
You are at risk for retinal tears and/or detachments due to a the high nearsightedness as well as the cataract surgery. The laser surgery does form a tight adhesion but breaks or tears can develop in front of the laser treated areas. It is important for you to monitor your symptoms for an increase in the number of floaters, flashing lights or a curtain coming down. Seek care at once should these symptoms occur.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
One week after laser surgery I started having arc or circle shaped flashes in treated eye. These were not present before surgery. It then increased in frequency for next 2-3 days and now the frequency started decreasing. Can someone explain this phenomenon? and how these flashes developed after surgery?
The U-shaped tear is also called a Horshoe Tear. If retina doc is recommending laser (aka "barrier laser" to form a barrier of laser around the tear), then I'd do it. Sure, there are risks. Nothing is risk free, but the risk of not treating is much much higher than the risk of doing the procedure.
Sincerely,
Timothy D. McGarity, M.D.
I had originally gone to the center fro Sight in Sarsota FL to have cataract surgery on my left eye.
After a thorough exam it was determined I had a tear in my right retina that had healed itself and lattice and some lattice in the left eye. They would not do cataract surgery until I saw their retina Specialist, Dr. Brandon Parrott, due to risk of retinal detachment.
After seeing Dr. Parrot he confirmed the tear that had healed and all the lattice in both eyes...more than normal.
His retinal surgeon told him recently that “the laser killed the retina”. (My husband had his emergency retinal surgery one year ago, but he noticed the reduced visual field only two weeks ago, after the cataract had been removed). He is very disappointed because we did not know that the loss of the peripheral vision could happen because of the laser used during the retinal surgery. I read it nowhere, our doctors did not mention that. Did you hear about that risk with the laser?
An ophthalmologist diagnosed me with lattice degeneration and performed laser treatment to seal off the weak areas on my retina. Now, 5 days after the laser treatment, I noticed there are flashes of light on the peripheral part of the eye. I immediately went back for check up but the doctor said my retina is normal.
Is it normal to have those symptoms after a laser treatment? What are the chances of having retinal detachment even after performing laser treatment?
Thank u!!
Dear Doctors,
Do you offer to get PRK surgery for a monocular person whose remaining eye's retina is sealed by laser because of tears. He has high myopia and fed up to wear glasses.
Thank you.
Dear Doctor, Can you please answer me what you think: I had a retina detachment (not a small one) localized by lasers because there's no facilities for immediate surgery at the place where I'm now. Before the coagulation, I didn't see the curtain, after the laser treatment a thick line bothers me in place of the coagulates and interferes with my vision. is it possible that laser coagulates burnt the retina?
Your observation has been described numerous times before in these forums following laser, freezing (cryotherapy), retina surgery such as scleral buckle for retinal detachment and macular surgery. The laser creates a thermal burn and subsequent scar formation that hopefully will seal holes or thin areas. However it also stimulates the retina and can generate bright spots (positive images) and darks spots (negative images) usually 180 degrees away from the treated area.
However, it seems more than likely that it was a combination between the former and the surgery as well as laser treatments. Yes, laser is used to create scar tissue which allows the retina to adhere to the back of the eye. Depending on the strength/power of the laser it may cause vision loss. Even a few minutes after a laser session you may have a temporary black out of vision.
Make sure you are seeing a retina specialist to look for holes etc. If the laser is adequate 2-4 weeks after it was done and there are no other holes present, you are likely OK to proceed with cataract surgery taking into consideration that you are at slightly increased risk of further holes and tears in the retina after cataract surgery.
Dear Doctor,
Last month I had a retinal tear out of the blue while visiting my parents back east. I had it immediately treated the next day with laser surgery, but there is still some sub-retinal fluid trapped under the welds. Now that I am back home, I have been monitoring it with a retina specialist here in town...opting for major surgery only if a RD develops. I was diagnosed with lattice degeneration in BOTH eyes.
So far, the right eye lattice has no holes or retinal tears.
i had retina detachment surgery in 97, then laser because of thinning of retina in other eye and then once laser on eye which had RD surgery, i always had some flashers in other eye (good eye) i got or 6 months regular checkup. i was advised not to do running, heads down yoga or too much jumping, not to pick heavy weights...not sure what exercise is good for me...also i spent long hours in front of laptop due to my work..
You need the laser to prevent a retinal detachment. The amount of scarring with a retinal laser in the periphery of the retina should not affect your vision, but if you developed a retinal detachment, you need surgery not just laser. If you are not happy with the retina surgeon in Las Vegas, come to LA; there are many excellent retina specialists here. I could recommend the David Boyer group in North Hollywood, Dr. Robert Engstrom in Encino, Dr. Sandy Lee in Van Nuys, and Dr.
There are two treatments being advertised for sufferers of severe floaters-more laser surgery, said to target the large bodies in the eye, that are not close to the macula, and, Floaters only Vitrectomy (FOV). The laser treatment of floaters has shown little success, from stats I've read. There are dangers as well, because of possible retinal damage from the laser. The FOV is only offered by a limited number of eye doctors, however, that list is growing.
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