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
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) are a special type of “cold” laser treatments for blood vessel disorders of the retina and choroid (the network of blood vessels underneath the retina). It involves injecting a light-sensitive medication, called Verteporfin, into the bloodstream. A special, non-thermal or “cold” laser then activates the medication in specific areas of the eye and seals off the blood vessels that are causing damage to the vision. The healthy tissue is spared from as much damage from the laser as the diseased tissue, reducing the scarring to more normal parts of the retina and choroid.
Conditions treated by Photodynamic Therapy include:
Wet Macular Degeneration
Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (variant of Wet Macular Degeneration)
Central Serous Retinopathy
Vascular Tumours of the eye e.g. Choroidal Haemangioma
Multispot Micropulse Yellow 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).
YAG Laser TREATMENTS
Including YAG Vitreolysis, YAG Capsulotomy and YAG Iridotomy
SELECTIVE LASER Trabeculoplasty
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.