Retinal laser surgery is performed in Tehran-Iran Noor Eye Hospital to treat some specific diseases such as:
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes is a disease that causes blood flow problems throughout the body. In this disease, the retinal veins may leak blood and result in edema or swelling. The vision of a person with diabetes changes when this edema occurs in the area of the retina responsible for central vision called macula. Retinal laser can seal the holes that cause fluid leakage and prevent more vision loss.
In some diabetic patients, new blood vessels grow in the retina to replace the occluded vessels. These vessels are not normal regarding the histological features and do not function properly, and even their bleeding can cause blindness in the person. The laser can remove these new vessels and prevent blindness.
Retinal Vein Occlusion
The small vessels that drain the blood from the retina will be blocked by aging. This phenomenon is especially seen in people with diabetes and hypertension. Retinal vein occlusion can cause the swelling of retina, which consequently results in bleeding, fluid leakage, as well as blurred central and peripheral vision. In other cases, new vessels may grow, which can cause severe pain and increase intraocular pressure. Laser helps reduce swelling and also prevents the formation of new blood vessels.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Some people develop some changes in the macula as a normal part of aging, which are dry and cannot be treated by laser therapy in many cases. The more serious type, the wet form, can cause macular edema due to bleeding or fluid leakage. Wet macular degeneration usually causes blurred vision without pain.
Retinal Detachment and Holes
Retinal holes can develop due to aging, ocular damage, severe nearsightedness and also by themselves without any causative factors.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
One or more blisters may develop in the macular region as a result of this disease. These lesions can cause blurry vision, abnormal color vision, temporary farsightedness, or blind spots. Although this condition resolves in most people by itself without undergoing any special treatments, sometimes retinal laser surgeries are required.
Ocular Tumors
Some benign tumors of the eye result in fluid leakage and retinal swelling. Laser can remove these tumors and resolve retinal swelling.