Retinal laser is most commonly used for diabetic retinopathy. It is also used for other retinal leakage conditions like AMD and retinal vein occlusions. It is also commonly used to treat retinal tears or holes. There are several different retinal lasers that are used in different ways (Argon laser, PDT laser, Subthreshold laser).

The most commonly used retinal laser is the Argon retinal laser. This laser is used in the consulting room (and also in theatre as part of retina operations). The patient will require his pupils to be dilated with drops before the procedure. It will thus be necessary for the patient to bring along a driver on the laser treatment visit, as his vision will be blurred after the treatment. The laser treatment can be as short as 2-3 minutes or as long as 25 minutes, depending on the problem. Laser is administered with a special lens which is placed on the eye, like a contact lens. The laser can be uncomfortable but not typically painful. For very long laser procedures we often do an anaesthetic injection around the eye prior to the laser treatment.

The procedure is typically quite safe with complications very uncommon. If you are diabetic and require extensive retinal laser (Panretinal photocoagulation – PRP), then the extensive laser can typically cause worsening of your night time vision. If you require peripheral retinal laser to prevent or treat retinal holes or tears, then you might find the pupil to be larger after the laser – this is typically transient and uncommon to last longer than 3 months. Some patients also report a worsening of their near vision after the laser. This also typically improves over time. Retinal tears and retinal bleeding or leakage is very uncommon after laser treatment.