Retinal Laser Therapy
Retinal Laser Therapy is the treatment of pathological conditions of the retina that can be treated by means of argon laser photocoagulation. It uses the photothermal reaction of the cells of the retinal pigment epithelium, hit by the laser beam.
The treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, under topical anaesthesia and without any special preparation for the patient other than pharmacological dilation of the pupil.
A contact lens ('three-mirror' or quadraspheric lens) is used to focus the laser beam. During treatment, lipothymic crises may occur in the patient (a vagal reflex to acupressure of the lens in use).
Laser 'welding' can affect a lesion on a flat retina: peripheral V-R degeneration, retinal tears, vitreo-retinal traction. The laser beam can be used to photocoagulate areas of retinal ischaemia in vasculopathies: diabetic retinopathy, outcomes of retinal vessel occlusion (venous thrombosis).
Pre- and Postoperative Examinations for Retinal Laser Therapy
Pre- and postoperative examinations in vasculopathies are optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorangiography (FAG).
Recovery Time for Retinal Laser Therapy
The post-operative progress involves absolute rest for 24-36 hours after treatment. Functional recovery depends on the nature and location of the lesion to be treated.
Possible pathologies treated
Retinal detachment occurs when a layer of the retina lifts up, taking the blood vessels of the eye with it.
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