Diabetic Laser Surgery

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that weakens the blood vessels that supply nourishment to the retina (the back of the eye where vision is focused). When these weak vessels leak, swell or develop thin abnormal branches that bleed, vision loss occurs. Laser surgery is the treatment of choice.

Focal Laser

Focal laser coagulation may be recommended for patients with clinically significant macular edema - swelling of the central retina, called the macula. The laser coagulates, or dries up, the fluid that is causing the swelling.

PRP Laser

A similar procedure called scatter laser photocoagulation (also known as pan-retinal photocoagulation or PRP) destroys abnormal blood vessel growth in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

During the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, no treatment is needed unless you have macular edema. To prevent diabetic retinopathy, people with diabetes should control their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol. Blindness due to diabetes can be prevented with a healthy diet, exercise and yearly-dilated eye examinations.

To learn more about Diabetes and Diabetic Laser options, click on the eye animation below:

In order to view the content, you must install the Adobe Flash Player. Please click here to get started.