Laser is a medical technique which concentrates a beam of light which flows through a created substance to concentrate energy on a specific part of the body – in your case, the eye.
Laser Treatment
Eye Laser surgery is a branch of ophthalmology which uses this concentrated beam to cut or cauterize tissues of the eye or blood vessels, to remove tumours in a sterile way with no bleeding.
The two types of lasers are used in eye treatment are:
- A thermo laser -the radiance of this laser becomes warm when it reaches the eye. The laser is used to cauterize blood vessels, to remove tumours and to attach or fix the retina to the back of the eye.
- A photo destructive laser -its radiance cuts or takes apart tissues in a similar way to a scalpel. The laser is used to cut thin membranes inside an eye where the sharpness of eyesight is reduced; we also use this laser to change the shape of the cornea so we can change the eye refraction - the eye's optical strength.
Yellow laser for treatment of glaucoma, retina and eye socket
Currently, yellow laser is one of the gentlest ways to treat eye socket, retina and glaucoma. In the Latvian American Eye Center, the treatment is available by the use of the yellow laser system EASYRET. 577 nm fiber laser technologies allows for treatment of eye diseases and the therapy at a new level.
Why the yellow laser is gentler than the alternatives:
The laser wavelength is particularly important in laser treatment. The shorter is the wavelength, the less the laser affects the retina. Simply put, the eye is treated only where it is needed, minimizing the possibility of affecting other retinal tissues and nerve fibres.
Equipment EASYRET causes less light scattering and requires lower energy levels compared with green (532 nm) and other yellow (561 to 568 nm) wavelengths.
What treatment the yellow laser EASYRET is used for:
- diabetic retinopathy,
- macula oedema,
- central serous chorioretinopathy,
- in the case of closed and opened angle glaucoma,
- as well as for treatment of other retinal diseases.
Advantages of the yellow laser EASYRET:
- more gentle affect on retinal tissues and nerve fibres;
- procedure is more comfortable and less painful to the patient;
- much shorter treatment time can be reached than with alternative equipment;
- causes less light scattering and requires lower energy levels compared with lasers of other wavelengths;
- laser has much less heat diffusion, thus less damaging retinal nerve fibre layer;
- can be applied to patients with opacity or cataract;
- therapy can be also used in diabetic patients.
SLT laser or selective laser for trabeculoplasty
The new generation SLT laser is recommended and used to patients for treatment of intraocular pressure and early stages of glaucoma. SLT laser reduces effectively intraocular pressure; the result of the therapy is long lasting and allows the patient to avoid regular dripping of necessary eye drop medications in everyday life.
SLT laser therapy produces a patient-friendly, painless and effective treatment result. SLT laser uses short pulses of low-energy light. It is developed so the pulse duration is shorter than the time required for melanine – thus, excellent treatment results are achieved not causing thermal damage and not affecting adjacent tissues!
SLT laser is used:
- in primary open-angle glaucoma – as a primary treatment;
- in significant daily fluctuations in intraocular pressure (IOP);
- in ocular hypertension – during the studies it was found that applying low-energy SLT laser, the medications were not needed in 85% of cases, average medication treatment starting time was much longer – 6.2 vs 3.3 years;
- in the case of progression of visual field defect irrespective of controlled pressure or low pressure glaucoma;
- before minimally invasive surgery;
- in chronic angle-closure glaucoma;
- in various types of glaucoma:
- primary open-angle glaucoma;
- pseudoexfoliation syndrome;
- idoexfoliation syndrome;
- pigment glaucoma;
- pseudophakia;
- steroid-induced glaucoma;
- a.o. (aphakia, unsuccessful trabeculectomy).
Benefits of SLT laser procedure:
85-90% success rate that after the procedure the daily eye drops will not be needed;
reduces intraocular pressure by 20-25 %;
allows to intervene with surgical treatment in the early stage of the disease, reducing development progress;
allows avoid more aggressive surgical intervention while there is such an option;
can be used before and after minimally invasive surgeries;
reduces need for medications and the side effects of their use;
no systemic side effects;
treatment can be repeated successfully (even higher level of success can be expected after the second application).
SLT laser procedure is performed outpatiently during the visit.