Laser photocoagulation: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Varun Kumar (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
{{eye-stub}} | {{eye-stub}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Ophthalmology]] | ||
{{WikiDoc Help Menu}} | {{WikiDoc Help Menu}} | ||
{{WikiDoc Sources}} | {{WikiDoc Sources}} |
Revision as of 01:20, 7 August 2011
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Laser photocoagulation surgery is used to treat a number of eye diseases and has become widely used in recent decades. During the procedure, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis, a laser is used to finely cauterize ocular blood vessels to attempt to bring about various therapeutic benefits.
The surgery is used in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration, having been proven to lower the risk of severe vision loss from these diseases, which are the two leading causes of blindness in the United States. Other eye diseases it is used to treat include retinal ischemia, neovascularization of the choroid or retina, glaucoma, and a complication of cataract surgery known as posterior capsular opacification.
Side effects and complications of laser photocoagulation are not infrequent although they are rarely severe. They include loss of peripheral vision, worsening visual acuity, reduced night vision, and hemorrhaging in the eye.
References
- Lawrence, Peter F; Bell, Richard M; Dayton, Merril T (2006). Essentials of Surgical Specialties. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.