Retinal Surgery

Cataract Surgery Refractive Surgery Corneal Surgery Glaucoma Surgery Retinal Surgery Oculoplastic Surgery Retinal Questions	Retinal Surgery
	Lasers are used extensively in retinal surgery. Most lasers used for treatment of the retina produce their effect by heat, which can seal off areas of leakage or produce a tight bond to hold tissue together.

Retinal Detachment

Laser for Retinal Tear

Argon Laser

	Fortunately, the retina does not feel the heat produced, so laser treatment of the retina usually does not cause discomfort.
Normal Retina

When the retina tears, a retinal detachment may result if the tear is
not treated. Laser surgery can "weld" the retina in place adjacent to the tear so that the retina will not detach, preventing the need for further surgery.

Leaking blood vessels are a feature of many retinal diseases. Laser treatment can seal the areas of leakage, preventing or reversing swelling in the retina which can cause blurred vision or retinal scarring.
	Normal Fluorescein Angiography

	This type of treatment can be helpful in certain cases of macular degeneration, though many cases are not amenable to laser treatment.
Laser for Macular Edema

It is an extremely important part of laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy, however, and laser treatment of leaking blood vessels in diabetes has been proven to reduce vision loss by about 75%.

Finally, the most severe damage from diabetes occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina. Laser treatment is crucial in treating the causes of this blood vessel growth, and this type of laser surgery can prevent most cases of blindness from diabetes.

When a retinal detachment does occur, it must be surgically repaired. Usually this involves sealing the break in the retina that caused the detachment, and indenting the white of the eye with a piece of silicone to help the retina remain in place. (The procedure is called a "scleral buckle", for the buckling effect produced by the silicone.)	Retinal Detachment

	Vitrectomy Sometimes the vitreous, the thick gelatinous material in the back of the eye, must be removed. Most often, this is necessary when it has not cleared spontaneously, or when scarring occurs that damages the retina or creates a retinal detachment. This surgical procedure can be performed through tiny tubes which cut and withdraw pieces of vitreous while replacing it with new fluid to fill the eye.
Post Vitrectomy

Vitreous Detachment