Retinal PRP

PRP is a treatment for severe diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusions. Its goal is to shrink abnormal, leaky blood vessels and reduce the risk of bleeding and retinal detachment. The procedure is done with numbing drops and taking painkiller medication to ensure comfort. Your doctor will place a contact lens on your eye. The laser (usually green or yellow) is applied to the peripheral retina (the sides), creating hundreds of tiny, patterned burns. These burns reduce the retina's demand for oxygen, which signals the abnormal vessels to regress. Treatment is typically spread over two or more sessions, each lasting 10-20 minutes, as your doctor plans. You will see bright flashes of light and may feel a dull ache or tapping sensation.

Laser

Before procedure

Do not drive yourself. Your pupil will be widely dilated, and your vision will be blurry afterward. Eat normally and take your medications. Discuss pain management options with your doctor if you are concerned. Inform your doctor of all medications, especially if you take blood thinners.

After procedure

Your vision will be very blurry for several hours and may remain somewhat blurry for a few days. You may have a headache or a sore, gritty feeling in the eye. Use the prescribed anti-inflammatory eye drops as directed. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for a few days. Peripheral (side) vision and night vision may be permanently reduced as an expected trade-off to save central vision.

Complication and alarm signs

This is a very safe preventative procedure. Complications are rare but can include bleeding, increased eye pressure, or inadvertent laser burns to the central vision area. The laser can sometimes fail to prevent detachment if new tears form. This is critically important: The laser does not fix floaters or flashes caused by the initial vitreous tugging. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience: A sudden, significant increase in floaters, new flashes of light, or any new shadow, curtain, or gray area in your peripheral vision, as these are signs of a new tear or detachment.

More to read

Laser

Retinal PDT

PDT is a two-step treatment primarily used for certain types of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). First, a light-activated drug called verteporfin is infused into a vein in your arm over about 10 minutes. Second, about 15 minutes after the infusion starts, your doctor will shine a non-thermal ("cold") red laser directly onto the leaky blood vessels in your macula for some seconds. The laser activates the drug only in that precise area, causing the abnormal vessels to seal without damaging the overlying retina. The laser itself is not hot and is not felt by the patient.

Laser

Retinal BL

A Barrier Laser is used to treat retinal tears, holes, or areas of significant thinning to prevent retinal detachment. After dilating and numbing your eye, your doctor will place a contact lens. The laser is applied in a pattern of small burns that surround the tear or weak area. These burns create gentle scar tissue that "spot-welds" or "fences off" the problem area, sealing it to the back wall of the eye and preventing fluid from getting underneath to cause a detachment. The procedure typically takes 5-15 minutes. You will see bright flashes and may feel a slight pulsing sensation.

Surgery

Silicone Oil Removal

Silicone oil is a substance injected into the eye at the end of certain complex vitrectomy surgeries (usually for difficult retinal detachments) to hold the retina in place for an extended period. After the retina has fully stabilized (typically several months to a year later), this oil must be removed in a second surgery because over time it can lead to complications such as glaucoma, cataract, or corneal opacity.

Surgery

Ptosis Surgery

Ptosis refers to drooping of the upper eyelid, which can be congenital or acquired (e.g., due to aging, eyelid trauma, or neuromuscular disorders). In severe cases, this drooping can restrict the superior visual field, cause eye fatigue, or be cosmetically bothersome. Surgery aims to elevate the eyelid to an appropriate level and achieve symmetry with the contralateral eye.

Surgery

Strabismus Surgery

This surgery is performed to correct strabismus (misalignment of the eyes). In strabismus, due to an imbalance in the function of the extraocular muscles, the visual axes of the two eyes are not aligned. This can cause diplopia (double vision), amblyopia (lazy eye), and cosmetic and social problems. The surgery aims to restore eye coordination and alignment by strengthening, weakening, or repositioning one or more of the eye muscles.

Surgery

Phaco with PCIOL

This is the standard treatment method for cataract. In cataract, the eye's natural clear lens gradually becomes cloudy, like a fogged-up window, blurring vision, fading colors, and making night vision difficult. Phaco surgery involves making a small incision in the cornea, breaking up and removing the clouded lens using ultrasound waves, and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (IOL).