PRP Specialist

What is PRP laser vision therapy?

PRP laser therapy is a state-of-the-art treatment that uses laser energy to protect your vision. PRP laser therapy has two settings: Focal coagulation and scatter photocoagulation.

Focal coagulation

Focal coagulation targets abnormal blood vessels in your eyes caused by diabetes. The laser heats the blood vessels causing them to drain, seal, and disappear.

Scatter coagulation

Scatter photocoagulation targets a broader area on your retina, creating many tiny burns that slow or stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels in your eyes.

Retina Specialists uses both types of PRP as a treatment to prevent vision loss due to diabetes. 

What conditions does PRP laser therapy treat?

The team at Retina Specialists offers PRP laser therapy as an option to prevent vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy. 

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when uncontrolled glucose levels cause abnormal blood vessels to form in your eye and leak blood or other fluid. The excess fluid can damage and scar your retina and cause vision loss. 

The ophthalmologists also sometimes recommend PRP laser therapy to treat macular edema or proliferative retinopathy. 

What should I expect during PRP laser therapy?

Your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist creates a personalized PRP laser therapy program to address your specific needs. Most patients need a series of PRP laser treatments for optimal results. 

On the day of your treatment, you need a friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment. Your ophthalmologist uses pupil dilating drops that can distort your vision for up to six hours. Each PRP laser appointment takes between two and four hours.

Your ophthalmologist prepares you for the treatment by providing drops to dilate your pupils as well as numb your eye. They place eyelid holders to keep your eyes wide open during the procedure. 

After studying your retina, they position the laser equipment in front of your eyes and begin the treatment. The PRP laser treatment takes 15-30 minutes and is painless. You may notice some flashing lights during treatment.

Your vision may be blurry for several hours after treatment, but you can go home when your treatment is complete. Your eyes may be slightly and temporarily swollen after PRP laser treatment, but you should be able to return to your regular activities within a couple of days. 

You continue to have regular checkups with your ophthalmologist so they can monitor your retina health and provide treatment as needed. 

Call Retina Specialists today or make an appointment online for state-of-the-art PRP treatments for retinopathy and other retinal disorders.