About Focal Lasers
At Retina Consultants of Texas, our board-certified and sub-specialized retina physicians use a state-of-the-art focal laser system to treat a number of retina conditions, most often macular edema, retinal holes, retinal tears, and macular degeneration.The laser can be used alone or in combination with other medical or surgical treatments, depending upon your specific condition. The laser burns and seal spots within the eye where there are leaking blood vessels, helping to prevent future damage and vision loss.
Treatment Techniques
We perform focal laser procedures on an outpatient basis in our office. On the day of your procedure, we will start by cleaning your eye to remove any bacteria and irritants, This helps to protect your eye from the risk of infection. Then dilating and numbing drops will be placed in the eye. In addition, a special contact will be placed on your eye to help keep it still.
We precisely calibrate the laser to target the exact spots within your eye that need to be treated. Then the laser is applied. The actual treatment takes only a few minutes, and patients typically experience no pain. However, you will experience bright flashes of light while the laser is being applied. Immediately after the procedure, your vision will be dark but this will gradually diminish.
As the laser session wraps up, we may also administer an intravitreal injection with an anti-VEGF medication to help diminish swelling and inflammation.
After Treatment
You can return home soon after a focal laser treatment, but you should have someone drive you as your vision will not be clear. Vision in the affected eye may be blurry for awhile, but this should subside. Your treatment plan may include multiple focal laser sessions to treat your specific condition.
