This information is to help anyone, who has been advised a retinal laser procedure, to understand what to expect during and after the procedure, and how to prepare for it.
Retinal Laser is most often an office, or clinic or out patient based procedure. In our practice we most commonly do it for patients affected with Retinal Detachment, Retinal Lattices, holes, tears or patients affected with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.
The procedure mostly involves sitting in front of a table top device (called the slit lamp) - from which you would perceive green light to come from the device. Alternatively, we may have you lie down on a bed, and use a device mounted on the head of the Retina Surgeon to deliver the laser.
Most people take the procedure very well in terms of pain. If at all, some people inform us of a pinch like pain during the retina laser, and green light appearing too bright. For numbing the eye, we commonly use pain relieving eye drops.
Immediately post procedure for a few minutes, since bright green light has been used, you may feel pinkish or dark vision. Which recovers after 5 minutes or so.
You may typically resume work after the effect of the dilation has worn off
If at all, on the day of the procedure, you may feel some heavyness in the eye, or potentially some soreness, or mild pain, all of which typically resolve at the end of one or two days.
We typically schedule a review at 1 to 2 weeks and may recommend further laser augmentation or completion based on the laser uptake by the retina during the review meet.
(Disclaimer: This page does not serve as a complete medical advice - further details of procedure are mostly tailored to individual patients. and therefore above information should be discussed with your Retina Specialist)
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Dr. Mayank Bansal MD(AIIMS), FRCS(Glasg, UK), is a senior consultant in vitreo-retinal surgery. He was awarded the top rank in Senior Residency at AIIMS, New Delhi. Trained at UCLA, USA, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow, UK - Dr. Bansal and his team follow best practices as performed in best hospitals of the world.