Who is a Good Candidate for Laser Eye Treatment?

laser eye treatment

The eye is a complex biological structure that lets us see the world around us. Cornea is an important part of the eye – the cornea along with the lens help to focus incoming light onto the retina. However, due to various factors there can be changes in the cornea’s shape which can impact vision negatively. A number of serious vision issues, such as astigmatism and nearsightedness, can arise from these corneal changes. 

Laser eye treatment is an effective procedure that reshapes the cornea and rectifies these issues. Different approaches may be used depending on which vision condition requires correcting. If you are planning for laser eye treatment, here is a good read. We discuss some  useful insights on who is a good candidate for laser eye treatment:

1. Must be 18+ years of age:

Before LASIK surgery, eye surgeons will ensure that your eyes are stable and not changing rapidly. Before the age of 18, the eyes undergo various changes, which can impact the outcome of LASIK surgery. When you are aged 18+ years, the chances of a successful outcome with laser treatment are much higher.

2. Have a stable vision prescription:

Even if you are aged more than 18 years, your prescriptions could still change. If you want to have an effective laser eye treatment, you should have a stable prescription. Most eye surgeons recommend that you have a good prescription for one or two years before you get the laser eye treatment.

3. Overall health is good:

Your overall health could impact your candidacy for laser eye treatment. If you are suffering from diabetes or certain autoimmune diseases, you may not be the right candidate for laser eye treatment. Some eye conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, may even be dangerous for laser eye treatment. Your eye surgeon will check whether you have any pre-existing health conditions impacting your ability to have laser eye treatment.

4. Should not have dry eyes:

If you have a history of dry eye or have dry eye syndrome, recovering from laser eye treatment is quite difficult. Screening for dry eye is a part of pre-laser eye treatment. If you are prone to dry eyes, your eye doctor will first recommend ways to treat them.

5. If you are suffering from farsightedness:

Hyperopia is the clinical name for farsightedness. If you have farsightedness, you can see distant objects very clearly, but things can appear blurry at a close distance. Farsightedness is mainly caused by the cornea’s curvature becoming too flat. Laser eye treatment can correct this condition by reshaping the cornea.

6. If you are suffering from nearsightedness:

Myopia is the other name for nearsightedness. It is where you can see the objects that are close, but the objects at a distance appear blurred. This is due to the steepness of cornea curvature. Eye surgeons can correct this condition through laser eye treatment by reshaping the cornea.

7. If you are suffering from astigmatism:

If you have astigmatism, the cornea or lens of your eye is irregularly shaped – instead of being round, they are shaped like a football or an egg. Laser eye treatment can fix the uneven curvature of the cornea.

Who is unsuitable for laser eye treatment? 

Laser eye treatment is not suitable for people who:

  • Take medications that can cause vision changes
  • Have had changes in the eye prescriptions in the last 6 to 12 months
  • Are younger than 18
  • Are nursing or pregnant
  • Have thin corneas

Are you looking for the best eye hospital for laser eye treatment?

Disha Eye Hospitals is one of the reputed eye hospitals for laser eye treatment. We offer both contoura LASIK and normal LASIK. Our LASIK eye surgeons have performed more than 10,00,000 successful surgeries. Furthermore, our eye surgeons are well-versed in advanced medical techniques. To know the eye laser treatment cost, feel free to contact us.

FAQs on Laser photocoagulation

laser eye treatment
If you have been recommended to undergo laser photocoagulation, you are bound to have questions. Here we have curated a list of frequently asked questions and their answers on laser photocoagulation and the
eye laser treatment cost that you will find useful: 

Question 1: What is laser photocoagulation used for?

Laser photocoagulation is laser eye treatment that is used to treat retinal conditions. The laser eye treatment is done to prevent the worsening of retinal disorders and reduce the risk of potential vision loss. 

Question 2: What does laser photocoagulation do?

This laser eye treatment  is used to seal off a tear or leaking blood vessels. It can also slow the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. The procedure cannot restore vision that is already lost, but it can reduce your risk of experiencing future vision loss.

Question 3: For what eye conditions is laser photocoagulation used? 

This laser eye treatment  is used to treat retinal conditions such as 

  • Retinal tears
  • Retinal detachment
  • Diabetic retinopathy 
  • Macular edema 
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)

Question 4: Who performs laser photocoagulation? 

Retina specialists perform laser photocoagulation. They are ophthalmologists who specialise in diseases of the retina. This gives them special training to safely perform laser photocoagulation.

Question 5: Is retinal laser photocoagulation painful?

The laser eye treatment is performed under topical anaesthesia. This is done to reduce the pain. The procedure is relatively painless and you may just feel a mild pricking sensation during the surgery. The entire procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the retinal disease being treated. 

Question 6: How long does laser photocoagulation take to heal?

Well, the recovery time varies from two to three weeks. The exact recovery time will vary from one person to another, depending on the age, type of retinal disorder and general health. 

Question 7: Is laser photocoagulation safe?

Yes, this laser eye treatment is both safe and effective in the treatment of retina disorders. However, just like any surgery, there are some associated risks involved. Talk to your retinal specialist about these before proceeding with surgery.

Question 8: Will I have pain?

You may have some discomfort around your treated eye. Your ophthalmologist is likely to prescribe your pain-relievers. However, you must contact your eye doctor in case of severe pain and discomfort.

Question 9: When can I wear contact lenses after laser photocoagulation?

Generally, you can wear your contact lenses once the redness has gone. This is usually within two to three days after the laser eye treatment.

Question 10: Can I drive home after laser photocoagulation? 

No, you cannot drive home the same after having the laser treatment done. You can drive the next day or when your ophthalmologist gives a go-ahead. However, if you are having vision problems, you should wait until you feel comfortable driving and your ophthalmologist says that it is safe for you to drive.

Question 11: When can I resume work after photocoagulation? 

You should take off work the day of your procedure. You will probably be able to return to work the following day. If your work is physical, you must ask your doctor when you can return to work.

Question 12: What can you not do after photocoagulation laser?

Here are some precautions you should take after laser eye treatment :

  • Don’t take a shower or wash your hair until the day after.
  • Don’t rub your eyes.
  • Use all eye drops, including artificial tears, that are prescribed by your doctor.
  • Wear the eye shield the doctor gave you while you sleep for the first week.
  • Keep tap water out of your eyes for at least a week.
  • Avoid swimming pools for at least 3 to 4 weeks.
  • No eye makeup for at least a week. 
  • No exercise for two days.
  • Avoid dusty environments. 
  • Avoid bright sunshine. Wear sunglasses on bright days.  
     
    Looking for laser eye treatment in Kolkata? 

We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, have YAG laser for laser eye treatment. It is used in retinal, cataract and glaucoma therapy. It is optimal for photocoagulation, post-cataract treatments, laser trabeculoplasty and combined iridotomy. To know the eye laser treatment cost, book an appointment at your nearest branch

What to expect at your first retina appointment?

eye specialist in Kolkata
If you are seeing a
retinal specialist for the first time, you may not know what to expect. The best way to get the most out of your retinal consultation is to come prepared. A retina specialist specialises in the treatment of conditions and diseases affecting the retina. Some of the common diseases treated by a retina specialist are:

  • Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Retinal detachment
  • Macular hole/pucker

As a leading eye hospital in West Bengal, we share with you useful insights on what you can expect at your first retina appointment:

A retina exam is more extensive than a routine eye exam: 

A retinal eye exam is more comprehensive than a routine eye exam.  Your initial appointment with a retina specialist may take anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the diagnostic tests recommended. 
Questions you will be asked 

Just like any other eye exam, you will be asked about:

  •  Medical history 
  •  Symptoms you are experiencing
  • Any medications that you are taking  

Tests that are done before the appointment: 

Some of the common tests that will be done include: 

  • Pupil dilation test: This test is performed to make the pupils large so that the retinal specialist can examine the optic nerve and retina. 

While your eyes are dilated, the retinal specialist may order specialised tests such as: 

  • Optical Coherence Tomography or OCT
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fundus Photography
  • Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging

What to bring to your appointment with a retina specialist:

When you visit a retina specialist for an appointment, it is important to bring along  important documents. 

  • If you have had any major surgery, bring the discharge summary and other hospital documents. 
  • It is also helpful to bring documents that has information about your family’s medical history. 
  • In addition, be sure to bring along the name and contact information of the referring doctor, as well as the reason for referral. 
  • Bring a complete list of all medications you are currently taking. 

How to prepare for a retinal eye exam? 

Here are a few things you can do to prepare for a retinal exam: 

  • It’s important to bring your glasses or contact lenses with you to your eye doctor appointment. This will help the retina specialist get an accurate measure of your prescription. 
  • After pupil dilation, you will not be able to drive back home as your vision will be blurry.  Have someone to drive you home. 
  • Bring along a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from glare when you are heading back home.

What will happen during the exam? 

By shining a light into your eye, the retina specialist can get a clear view of the back of the eye. This allows your retina specialist to look for any signs of damage or disease. The retina specialist uses one or more of these techniques for viewing your eye condition:

  • Direct examination: The direct examination is performed with an ophthalmoscope, which allows the doctor to shine a beam of light through the pupil to get a clear view of the back of the eye.
  • Indirect examination: The indirect examination, also known as indirect ophthalmoscopy, uses a condensing lens and a bright light to provide a more detailed look at the retina and other structures inside the eye.
  • Slit-lamp exam: A slit-lamp exam is often performed to get an even closer look at the back of the eye. This exam uses a special lens and a beam of light to provide a clear, three-dimensional view of the eye. 

Note: Usually, the retinal exam takes about 10 minutes, but you will be in the eye hospital for hours. It is because pupil dilation needs some time.

Looking for a retina specialist? 

If you live in West Bengal and are looking for a “retina specialist near me” online, visit Disha Eye Hospitals. We have some of the best retina specialists who can help you choose the right treatment option. Call us to book an appointment at the nearest branch.