Pan-retinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy
What is panretinal laser photocoagulation?
Panretinal laser photocoagulation is a laser treatment for slowing down the progression of diabetic retinopathy or the growth of new vessels in the retina also known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
The proliferation or growth of new vessels leads to bleeding into the vitreous or the jelly of the eye if left untreated.
How is the treatment done?
You will be given drops to dilate the pupil and which take 20-30 minutes to work. The laser is performed by sitting at in front of a laser machine and the doctor performing the procedure with explain the procedure and answer all questions that you may have related to the procedure.
A small contact lens is placed on the eye and it takes 15-20 minutes to complete the treatment.
What are the risks?
The most common risk of this treatment is transient visual blurring which may last for a few days. If the diabetic eye disease is advanced, it will not improve or restore vision.
Is it painful?
Anaesthetic eyedrops are instilled to numb the eye prior to placing the contact lens and carrying out the laser treatment.
What can I expect following treatment?
Your vision may be blurred for a few hours following the procedure but will revert to normal afterwards. You may return to normal activity immediately after the procedure although the dilating drops take 4-6 hours to wear off.
How long does the treatment last?
The laser treatment usually requires 2-3 sessions to complete the treatment. If there is a bleed in the eye due to advanced complications of diabetic retinopathy, this laser treatment may be inadequate to fully treat the retinopathy and further surgery may be required.
Our Treatments and Price List
| New patient consultation | £320 |
| Follow up appointment | £280 |
| Full panretinal laser photocoagulation | £1200 |
| 3 sessions |
| Fill-in panretinal laser photocoagulation | £450 |
| 1 session |
If you would like to discuss Ophthalmology treatments, please get in touch with a member of our team
