Laser coagulation is a common treatment method in ophthalmology. It is used for various diseases of the retina and can reliably prevent them from progressing.
What is laser coagulation?
Schematic diagram for LASIK eye surgery. Click to enlarge. The term laser coagulation is used by medical professionals to describe a therapeutic method used in ophthalmology to treat certain diseases of the retina. Different types of lasers can be used to treat the diseased or altered retina. In this procedure, small scars are specifically caused on the retina, which prevent blood vessels from forming or holes from spreading. Various diseases of the retina can be contained in this way. The retina is only damaged to such a small extent that the patient does not notice any restrictions in vision. Before the procedure, the retina is locally anesthetized. Laser coagulation is a procedure that has been known since 1949, but has been significantly developed since then.
Function, effect, and goals
Laser coagulation takes place in ophthalmology whenever there is a disease or injury of the retina that can be treated or contained with the help of the laser beams. A very common area of application is, for example, diabetes in the eye, in which a so-called macular edema develops. This can swell considerably and significantly impair the patient’s vision. With the help of laser coagulation, the edema can be prevented from swelling, so that further loss of vision can usually be prevented. Vascular occlusion in the retina can also be treated in this way. If the diseases just mentioned progress untreated, it can lead to the formation of defective and/or fragile blood vessels in addition to a reduction in vision and even blindness. These can result in bleeding inside the eye. It is not uncommon for advanced age to lead to so-called macular degeneration, which causes small holes in the retina. With the help of laser coagulation, these can be sealed so that no further progression of the damage can occur. In the worst case, macular degeneration ends in a complete detachment of the retina. If the retina is already detached, laser coagulation can no longer take place, because in this case the treatment would no longer be successful. Laser coagulation is also not possible if the eyes are cloudy, for example due to a cataract. A comprehensive examination of the patient prior to treatment is therefore urgently required to determine his or her suitability for the procedure. Before the procedure is performed, the eye is anesthetized with local anesthetic drops. A so-called contact lens is then placed on the eye itself. Finally, the actual treatment with the laser beams takes place. The areas of the retina that are hit scar immediately, preventing the progression of the above-mentioned diseases or damage.
Risks and dangers
In principle, laser coagulation is a frequently performed routine procedure that leads to complications only in the fewest cases. Of course, however, like any treatment on the eye, it carries a certain theoretical risk. Rarely, postoperative bleeding or increased eye pressure occur after laser coagulation. Pain as a result of the treatment is extremely rare, as are major injuries or infections. Since the laser always damages cells that are capable of seeing, in individual cases vision may deteriorate or even go completely blind. Loss of the entire eye is also theoretically possible, but is one of the absolute exceptions. Under certain circumstances, allergic reactions may occur during laser coagulation. In order to exclude this as far as possible, patients should discuss all existing allergies and intolerances with the treating physician in advance and inform him immediately if any symptoms occur. Laser coagulation that is performed professionally and takes place when the disease/damage to the retina has not progressed too far generally has a very favorable prognosis. A progression of the symptoms can be prevented in most cases. In some cases, there is also an improvement in vision.However, pre-existing damage to the retina cannot be repaired with the help of laser coagulation, but remains as is.
