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Laser Treatments

Green Thermal Laser

Green thermal laser treatments involves directing a concentrated hot beam of green light onto the retina, the film at the back of the eye. Previously known as “argon laser”, this type of green thermal laser acts to seal leaking blood vessels or retinal tissue.

The thermal laser treatment can dry up abnormal bleeding in the retina and vitreous and leaking capillaries. It can stop blindness from retinal tear or detached retina.

Conditions that can be treated by thermal laser include:

  • Retinal Tears, Holes and Limited Retinal Detachment

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Retinal Vein Occlusion

  • Retinal Haemorrhage

  • Vitreous Haemorrhage

  • Choroidal Neovascularization

Treatment using green thermal laser for some eye conditions may not improve vision but hold the vision steady and stop patients from losing eyesight.

Indirect Laser

Indirect laser treatments are another mode of delivering thermal or “hot” laser where a retina specialist uses an indirect ophthalmoscope (an instrument used to view the peripheral part of the retina) to focus the laser light onto the retina.

Indirect laser treatments are most useful for peripheral retinal conditions such as peripheral retinal tear or retinal detachment since this method offers a wider field of view of the retina.

Conditions treated by Indirect laser include:

  • Retinal Tear, Hole and Limited Retinal Detachment

  • Peripheral Retinal Haemorrhage

  • Vitreous Haemorrhage

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

YAG Laser

YAG is a type of nano-pulsed laser that is commonly used in ophthalmic treatment. Strathfield Retina Clinic uses the Ellex Tango Reflex for YAG laser treatment.

YAG Laser Vitreolysis (Laser Floater Removal)

YAG Vitreolysis can be used to effectively remove significantly symptomatic, persisting vitreous opacities causing “floaters” in select patients.

A careful examination of the retina and vitreous through a dilated pupil is absolutely essential following the onset of “floaters” because our retina specialists can determine if what people are seeing is harmless, or the symptom of a more serious problem requiring treatment. With YAG laser vitreolysis, we can offer these patients a highly effective, pain-free outpatient-based treatment, which can provide much needed relief from their floaters and potentially obviate, or at the least delay, the need for invasive surgery.

If you suffer from eye floaters, please discuss with our retina specialists who will be able to determine if this treatment is appropriate for you.

YAG Capsulotomy

This procedure is performed after cataract surgery for a small proportion of patients who develop what is called Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO). If this occurs, the capsule holding the artificial lens in place thickens and becomes opaque or cloudy over time and stops light reaching the back of the eye. Similar to a camera lens becoming dirty and affecting image quality, patients who develop PCO may experience a blurring or haziness to their vision over time. YAG Laser Capsulotomy corrects this by focusing a laser beam at the centre of the capsule to create a hole, which then lets light through again.

If you are experiencing these symptoms after your cataract surgery, please discuss with our retina specialists who will be able to determine if this treatment is appropriate for you.

YAG Iridotomy

This procedure is performed for patients who have closed angle glaucoma, which causes increased eye pressure due to a build-up of fluid in the eye. Increased pressure in the eye can lead to optic nerve damage and possible vision loss. YAG Laser Iridotomy works by creating a small hole in the outer edge of the iris, which opens the angel and allows the fluid to drain properly and this lowers the pressure in the eye. Our retina specialists will discuss if this treatment is appropriate for you.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty Laser (SLT)

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT, is a type of laser that is used to lower eye pressure in patients suffering from Glaucoma. It is a type of “cold” laser that uses short pulses of low-energy light to improve fluid drainage in the eye. This results in a gradual lowering of eye pressure and it can take up to 3 months to see results. The laser is delivered via a microscope, similar to those used for eye examination. Before your treatment, anaesthetic eye drops are used to prepare the eye for the procedure and make sure you are comfortable. During the procedure, the laser will appear as pulses of light are applied to the eye via a special lens that rests on the eye. The procedure takes less than 5 minutes to perform and is usually painless. Rarely, you may experience a mild aching after the procedure but this resolves itself within about 24 hours. At Strathfield Retina Clinic, we use the Ellex Tango Reflex for SLT Laser treatment.

Who will benefit from SLT?

Patients with ‘open-angle glaucoma’ who need to lower their eye pressure to slow down the progression of glaucoma are best suited to SLT. This procedure is particularly useful for:

  • Those who are intolerant to the side effects of glaucoma medication

  • Those who have difficulty using or remembering to regularly use eye drops

  • Those who only experience partial effectiveness from glaucoma medication and require their eye pressure to be lowered even further

  • As an initial treatment for new diagnosis of glaucoma, to defer the need for medication right away

Multispot Micropulse Yellow Laser

We are one of few clinics in Australia and the first in NSW to have access to this newest technology laser. Multispot Micropulse Yellow Laser is the latest generation of “hot” or thermal lasers. “Hot” laser surgery involves directing a concentrated beam of light onto the retina (photocoagulation). We use the latest generation Supra Scan 577 technology laser from Quantel Medical. The Multispot mode means that multiple spots of laser can be applied rapidly in a pattern in a shorter space of time, unlike conventional lasers which use a single spot. This allows areas of leaking and bleeding to be targeted more rapidly and effectively. This means that less energy is required, making the treatment more comfortable. The MicroPulse mode allows a subthreshold beam of laser to be applied to the retina. This modified laser beam is still effective in drying up fluid and blood in the retina and targeting leaky blood vessels, including damaged capillaries, however does not have the same risk of longer-term scarring of the retina and macula as conventional laser. The yellow laser colour (577nm) is also more gentle to the macula region and can penetrate through opacities of the eye such as cataract better.

What are its benefits compared to conventional laser?

  • More Comfortable: The yellow laser requires less power but works more rapidly, which means less patient discomfort such as pain and dazzling during the treatment. The laser spots are applied at a faster rate, improving patient comfort.

  • More Safe: Research studies have shown that the new micropulse laser results in less long-term scarring traditionally caused by older laser technologies and has been shown to be just as effective as currently used laser treatments but with less side effects.

  • More Accurate: Yellow laser light is more precise and gentler in treating the macular within the retina, allowing our Retina Specialists to target areas of bleeding and leaking more accurately without damaging other further parts of the retina.

  • More Effective: Yellow laser light can penetrate cataracts (clouding of the lens) and vitreous haemorrhages (blood in the jelly-part of the eye) better than traditional green lasers light in treating complex eye disorders. Using this new technology may also mean faster recovery time and shorter treatment sessions. Our Retina Specialists will inform you if your condition is suitable to be treated by the new Multispot Micropulse Yellow Laser.

What Conditions are treated by Multispot Micropulse Yellow Laser?

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Diabetic Macular Oedema

  • Central Serous Retinopathy

  • Macular Oedema

  • Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

  • Retinal Tears, Holes and Limited Retinal Detachment

  • Retinal Haemorrhage

  • Vitreous Haemorrhage

  • Choroidal Neovascularization

  • Myopic Macular Degeneration