Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy FAQ

What is laser therapy?

Laser therapy is a minimally invasive treatment option for advanced diabetic retinopathy. The goals of laser therapy are to stabilize your vision and reduce your risk for vision loss that the disease can cause.

The team at Network Eye offer two types of laser therapy in-office:

Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP)

Panretinal (scatter) photocoagulation is a laser procedure to shrink blood vessels in your eye that interfere with clear vision.

Focal photocoagulation

Focal photocoagulation is a laser procedure to seal specific blood vessels in your retina near the macula that are leaking.

To determine if you’re a candidate for laser therapy, the Network Eye team performs a comprehensive eye exam. They may recommend topical medications or injection therapies before qualifying you for laser therapy.

What happens during laser therapy?

Laser therapy is an outpatient procedure the Network Eye team performs in-office. They use a local or topical anesthetic to numb your eye and also dilate your eyes to widen your pupils.

When the team directs the laser into your eye, you may feel a mild stinging sensation, but the treatment isn’t typically painful. It’s also normal to see some flashes of light throughout your laser treatment.

You can expect to spend some time recovering in the office before you can go home after your treatment. Because your eyes will stay dilated for several hours, you’ll need someone to drive you. You also need to wear dark glasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from the sun.

How long does it take to recover from laser therapy?

Your vision may be blurry and uncomfortable for a day or two after laser therapy. In many cases, you can expect to return to work and your other activities once your vision clears after dilation.

The Network Eye team will check your eye health and the results of your laser therapy during a follow-up appointment. While the treatment can’t restore vision you’ve already lost, it can reduce your risk for additional vision loss.

To find out if you’re a candidate for laser therapy to treat diabetic retinopathy, call Network Eye to schedule an appointment or book a consultation online today.