Laser Treatment of Diabetic Eye Disease:

Serving you in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove  and the surrounding areas.

847-392-9220

Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy uses focused light energy to shrink abnormal blood vessels or stop fluid leaks in the retina. Performed as an outpatient procedure by an eye doctor, it takes about 15 minutes per session and helps protect your remaining sight from severe loss.

Types of Laser Treatment

  • Focal laser: Seals specific leaking blood vessels in a small area to treat swelling near the center of vision (macular edema).
  • Scatter (PRP) laser: Places hundreds of tiny burns across the outer edges of the retina to shrink new, fragile blood vessels.

What to Expect During the Procedure

  • Numbing drops: Your eye doctor puts special drops in your eye so you do not feel pain.
  • Special lens: A contact lens rests on your eye to keep it steady and focus the light.
  • Sensations: You may see bright flashes of light and feel a mild stinging or warmth.

After the Treatment

  • Blurry vision: Your vision stays blurry for several hours because of the pupil-dilating drops.
  • Transportation: You must arrange for someone else to drive you home.
  • Recovery: Mild discomfort or ache can happen, which simple pain relievers can treat.
  • Multiple sessions: You might need two or more visits to finish the full treatment plan.

Laser Treatment of Retinal Tears:

Retinal tear laser surgery (laser photocoagulation) is a quick, 15-to-30 minute outpatient procedure performed by an ophthalmologist. The doctor uses numbing drops, applies a specialized lens, and directs a laser around the tear. This creates tiny microscopic scars that weld the retina to the eye wall, stopping fluid leaks and preventing retinal detachment.

What to Expect During the Procedure

  • Numbing drops: Applied to the eye so you feel little to no sharp pain.
  • Bright flashes: You will see repeated bright lights or flashes of color as the laser fires.
  • Short duration: The actual laser application takes only about 5 to 10 minutes.

Recovery and Aftercare

  • Immediate effects: Vision will be blurry from the dilating drops and bright lights, and you will need someone to drive you home.
  • Activity limits: Avoid heavy lifting, bending over, or hard exercise for 1 to 2 weeks to let the tissue heal.
  • Mild symptoms: Mild headache or scratchy eye feeling can occur for a few hours.

When to Call Your Doctor Immediately

Contact your eye specialist right away if you notice:

  • A sudden spike in new floaters or dark spots
  • New or constant flashing lights
  • A dark shadow, "curtain," or gray veil moving across your field of vision

Laser Treatment of After Cataracts:

Laser treatment for an "after-cataract" (medically called posterior capsule opacification, or PCO) is a quick, painless in-office procedure known as a YAG Laser Capsulotomy. It takes about 5 minutes, requires no cuts or stitches, and clears cloudy vision by opening a small window in the hazy membrane behind your artificial lens.

What is an "After-Cataract"?

  • Not a real cataract: A new cataract does not grow back.
  • Capsule clouding: The thin natural capsule holding your artificial lens implant gets hazy or wrinkled over time.
  • Symptoms: Vision becomes blurry, hazy, or dim again, resembling your original cataract.

What Happens During the Procedure

  • Numbing drops: Your eye doctor puts drops in your eye so you feel no pain.
  • Sitting upright: You sit at a machine similar to a standard eye exam equipment.
  • Laser pulses: The doctor uses a specialized laser to make a tiny, precise opening in the center of the cloudy capsule.
  • Light path: This opening lets light pass clearly to the retina again.

Recovery and Risks

  • Fast healing: Vision usually improves within 24 hours once pupil dilation wears off.
  • No downtime: You can return to normal daily activities right away.
  • Temporary side effects: You might notice mild floaters for a few days.
  • Rare risks: A small risk of retinal detachment or increased eye pressure can occur, so contact your doctor immediately if you see sudden flashes of light or new dark spots.

Laser Peripheral Iridotomy for Narrow Angle Glaucoma

A laser iridotomy is a quick, in-office eye procedure. An eye doctor uses a focused beam of light to make a tiny hole in the outer edge of your iris. This hole lets fluid flow freely, stops pressure from building up, and treats or prevents angle-closure glaucoma.

How the Procedure Works

  • Numbing drops: Your doctor puts special drops in your eye so you do not feel pain.
  • Special lens: They place a contact lens on your eye to guide the laser.
  • Laser pulses: The laser makes a tiny hole in seconds. You may feel a brief pinch or sting.
  • Quick exit: You wait a short time to check your eye pressure, then go home.

Recovery and Aftercare

  • Blurry vision: Your sight may be fuzzy for a few hours. Arrange for someone to drive you home.
  • Eye drops: Your doctor may give you medicated drops to use for a few days to prevent swelling or pressure spikes.
  • Normal routine: Most people go back to normal activities the next day.

Possible Risks

  • Mild headache or brow ache
  • Temporary blurry sight or bright streaks of light
  • Brief redness or minor bleeding in the eye
  • Short-term rise in eye pressure

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Treatment of Open Angle Glaucoma:

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a quick, painless, in-office laser procedure used to lower intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma. It uses low-energy light pulses to target specific pigmented cells in the eye's drainage system, helping fluid drain more effectively without harming surrounding tissue.

How the Procedure Works

  • Numbing drops are placed in the eye so you do not feel pain.
  • A special contact lens with gel is placed on your eye to focus the laser.
  • Short bursts of light target the trabecular meshwork to improve fluid outflow.
  • The session takes about 5 to 10 minutes per eye.

Benefits and Effectiveness

  • Lowers eye pressure by 20% to 30% in most patients.
  • Can reduce or eliminate the need for daily eye drop medications.
  • Results typically last 1 to 5 years, and the procedure is safe to repeat if pressure rises again later.
  • Has very few side effects compared to daily drops or invasive surgery.