Surgery and Lasers

1. How does retina surgery compare to other surgeries?
2. My doctor told me I might need laser surgery for a retinal problem. What should I expect?
3. Will I still need glasses after the laser treatment?
4. Do you do surgery at your clinic?

How does retina surgery compare to other surgeries?

Surgery for conditions involving the retina and vitreous has seen tremendous advancements over the past 30 years. Some conditions can now be treated using in-office procedures, but more serious conditions often still require traditional surgery performed in a hospital operating room setting. Vitreoretinal surgery is often somewhat more complex and time-consuming than other eye surgeries. The retina is an extremely thin layer of tissue and requires very delicate maneuvers for successful surgical repair. We use a high-powered microscope in order to be able to successfully manipulate the structures within the eye, and even the tiniest patient movements can make the surgery more difficult. For this reason and due to the longer duration of surgery, we often recommend surgery under general anesthesia. Unlike cataract surgery, in which patients often note a dramatic improvement in vision immediately, the visual recovery from vitreoretinal procedures is often much more prolonged, and may actually be worse than prior to surgery for several days to weeks postoperatively. Additionally, it is sometimes necessary that the patient maintain a specific head position postoperatively to ensure the best possible surgical outcome. All of this can be daunting to a patient, but with attention to detail and appropriate discussion of surgical expectations, the process can be greatly facilitated and patients tend to do extremely well.

My doctor told me I might need laser surgery for a retinal problem. What should I expect?

Some common retinal problems such as retinal tears and diabetic retinopathy can be effectively treated with an in-office laser procedure. In some cases, multiple treatments are needed over a several month period. While some call this “laser surgery,” it is not surgery in the true sense that no incisions are made and no anesthesia is needed (This is NOT the same as the popular laser eye surgery for vision correction – see below). Our laser procedures are performed in the same room as the eye exam and are generally not uncomfortable or painful, and the risks are minimal. Most such procedures can be completed in less than 10 minutes.

Will I still need glasses after the laser treatment?

Laser treatment for disorders of the retina is unrelated to laser eye surgery for vision correction. Treatment generally does not result in a change in your glasses prescription.

Do you do surgery at your clinic?

We are able to perform some procedures here in our clinic, including laser treatments, injections of medication, and repair of some types of retinal detachments. All other surgical procedures are performed in a hospital-based operating room, on an outpatient basis. Generally, patients are able to go home within 1-2 hours after surgery, and are then asked to return the following day for a postoperative check-up.