PAN-RETINAL PHOTOCOAGULATION LASER (PRP)

What is Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP)?

Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation Laser (PRP) is used to seal abnormal leaking blood vessels in the retina and discourage their growth.

This process is called photocoagulation and involves the application of an intense laser light source (Scatter laser) to coagulate and destroy or fuse small areas of retinal tissue.

What Does Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation Treat?

Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP) can be used in the treatment of:

Diabetic Retinopathy especially Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Vitreous Hemorrhage
Retinal tear or hole
Severe Retinal Vein Occlusion

It can also be used as an adjunct in treatment of

Retinal Detachment
Epiretinal Membrane
Macular Hole
Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
Endophthalmitis

Why is Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation Required?

Without Panretinal Photocoagulation, the abnormal blood vessels may continue to bleed and fill the eye with blood. Left untreated this can cause scarring and irreversible blindness.

Who is Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation Suitable For?

Pan-retinal photocoagulation is used to prevent the development of new vessels over the retina and elsewhere, not to regain lost vision. If vision loss is due to bleeding into the eye, this may recover with time. If vision loss is due to scarring, this will not recover.

Preparation Before the Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation

Your eyes will be dilated for the procedure. This will make your vision blurry and light sensitive for 3 hours. Please have someone drive you home if possible, or inform the staff if you only want one eye dilated.

What Happens During Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation?

Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation is performed in a specially equipped laser room. It does not require a surgery centre.

Laser Photocoagulation is performed with mild, topical anaesthesia.

The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes per session.

Your ophthalmologist will:

Dilate your pupil with eye drops and numb it.
Take you into the Laser room.
Place a special laser lens on your eye.
Aim the laser at the blood vessels and treat them.

The laser seals the blood vessels so that they no longer leak fluid behind the retina.

A complete laser treatment, however, may require 3 or more different sessions, with a total of one to two thousand laser applications ("spots").

The procedure does not hurt and is generally safe.

Immediately After Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation

Your vision may be poor for a few hours after the procedure.

Plan for your care and a ride home after the procedure.

Risks of Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation

Every procedure or treatment has risks. Your ophthalmologist will explain the procedure and any risks.

Some possible risks include:

Vision may decrease due to oedema/swelling of the retina, after the laser treatment. This can be treated with anti-VEGF injections.
The laser may accidentally damage the macula, resulting in some loss of vision and possibly a permanent blind spot. This is extremely rare with modern lasers.
The blood vessels may come back even after laser treatment. This may require further laser or anti-VEGF injections.