Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation

Cause

There are many conditions that would warrant Retinal Laser Surgery. For example, we would use Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation to seal around a retinal tear to prevent the tear from further damaging and pulling on your retina, which could turn into a retinal detachment. Focal Laser Therapy would be used to seal blood vessels which are leaking in the retina, from diseases such as Diabetic retinopathy or Diabetic Macular Edema.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a Retinal Tear include an increase in floaters and/or flashes of light. These symptoms should not be ignored. You should contact a retina specialist immediately upon the first signs of these symptoms.  Diabetic Macular Edema which occurs in patients with diabetes can cause your central vision to decrease and look blurry.

Diagnosis

Retinal Tears can be diagnosed by a full eye examination and scleral depression. When the doctor performs scleral depression he is able to get a 360 degree look at the back of your eye. This works by light pressure applied to the edges around your eye. Diabetic Retinopathy or Diabetic Macular Edema can be diagnosed by the use of special pictures call a Fluorescein angiogram and an optical coherence tomography.

Treatment

Pan-Retinal Coagulation is used to treat retinal tears by using a laser beam that creates an adhesion around the part of the retina that has torn to prevent further worsening. Left untreated can turn into a retinal detachment and loss of vision. Focal Laser Therapy is used in the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema to deal off the small vessels that leak and cause swelling in the retina.  

Prevention

There is no way to prevent a retinal tear, however, dilated regular eye examinations can reveal a retinal tear early and laser can be performed to prevent further damage.

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