Retinal Laser Treatment

Follow-upappointmentshouldbearrangedbeforeyou leavetheclinicthismaybewithinaweekbutmore commonlyafteramonthortwo.

While Youre At Home:

Youmayfindlyinginaquietanddarkroomsoothing.

Sleepisveryimportant,andhelpsinthehealingprocess.

Dont Be Shy!Thisisveryimportant.Ifyouexperienceanyproblems,nomatterhowinsignificantyouthinktheymightbe(liketheeyeispainfulortheblurringpersistsformorethanafewdays)makeanappointmentwithyourdoctor!

So dont be shy and call your doctor!

For urgent advice please call:

[duringworkinghours]

[outsideworkinghours]

ABU DHABIAl Khaleej Al Arabi Street (30th Street)Beside Zayed Military HospitalPO Box: 48338, Abu Dhabi, UAETel: +971 2 40 40 800Fax: +971 2 40 40 900

AL AINImperial College London Diabetes CentreNext to Tawam Hospital PO Box: 222464, Al Ain, UAETel: +971 3 74 64 800Fax: +971 3 74 64 900

www.icldc.ae Copyright 2010 Imperial College London Diabetes Centre

Pre Laser AdviceThelaser,abeamofhighintensitylight,canbefocusedwithextremeprecision.Itcanhelptostopbloodvesselsgrowinginthewrongplaceintheretinaandcanreducefluidintheretinawhentoomuchispresent.Howmuchlasertreatmentisneededdependsonhowbadtheproblemsareintheretina.Ineightoutoftencaseslasercanimprovethesituation.

Laser Treatmentisanoutpatientprocedurethatiscarriedoutduringaclinicvisit.Eyedropsareusedtowidenthepupilssothatthereisagoodviewoftheretinaandothereyedropsareusedtonumbtheeye.Asmallspecialcontactlensisthenplacedontheeyetohelpfocusandaimthelaserbeam.

Occasionally,thedoctormayaskyoutomoveyoureyesincertaindirections,butthiscaneasilybedonewiththecontactlensinplace.Youwillseeflashesoflightduringthetreatmentandhearabeepingsoundwhenthelaserisworking.

Is It Painful?

Thelaserprocedureisusuallypainless,butoccasionallyyoumayfeeldiscomfort.Ifthetreatmentdoesbecomepainful,thenitispossibletohaveaninjectionaroundtheeyetonumbthepain.Dontbeafraidtoaskyourdoctor,especiallyifyouhavefoundaprevioussessionoflasertreatmenttobedistressing.

After the Treatment

Side Effects

Lasercanaffectthevision,buttherisktoeyesightwithouttreatmentisusuallymuchgreaterthanwiththetreatment.

Itiscommontonoticesomelossofvisiontothesidesafteralotoflaserhasbeendone.Also,theeyecantakelongertoadapttochangesinbrightness(goingfromlighttodarkordarktolight),andthismayaffectdriving,especiallyatnight.Occasionallyyoumaylosealittlecentralvision,orrarelynoticethelaserburnsasblankspots.Thereareveryfewrestrictionsonyouractivityafterretinallaser.

Occasionallyyourdoctormayprescribesomeeyedrops orointmenttouseforafewdaysafterthelaser,but usuallynoneisneeded.

Thepupilisalsowidelydilatedforafewhoursandyou willbemorecomfortablewearingdarkglasses.Donotdriveacarduringthistimeyourvisionmay wellbemoreblurredthanyourealise.

Thelocalanaestheticonthesurfaceoftheeyemaylast afewhoursanditisveryimportantnottorubtheeye duringthistime.

Washing,bendingdown(praying),canbedoneaftera fewhours.

Eyecosmetics(make-up)canbeusedaftertwodays.

Painshouldnotbeaproblematall.Abitofachingmay happenforadayortwoandthiscanbecontrolledby takingaparacetamol.