PDR, or Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, is a condition of the eye that could affect diabetic patients. In this condition, new blood vessels are formed in the eye at a rapid rate which can cause vitreous haemorrhage which is, essentially, bleeding in the eye. This could result in vision loss. Apart from bleeding, there could also be the development of scar tissue that can cause the retina to detach. Retinal laser surgery is done to arrest the growth of these new blood vessels, thereby saving the vision of the eye.
When a patient has had diabetes for many years, the eyes of the patient will start to release special growth hormones. One of the main growth hormones is the VEF, which stands for Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor. The hormone is released by the retinal cells that think it is being denied nutrients due to the high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. This growth hormone causes more and more blood vessels to form.
PDR is diagnosed only after exhaustive and comprehensive testing of the eyes. Certain tests that you will be checked for are:
- Your ophthalmologist will take your complete medical history, particularly your diabetic history.
- The ophthalmologist will also measure how much of your central vision has been lost.
- You will also be tested to see if you need new prescription glasses.
- The retina will be evaluated after the pupil is dilated along with the other parts of the eye.
- The pressure within the eye will be measured.
There are many methods of treatment your doctor can recommend for the health of your eye, The retinal laser treatment PDR surgery in India is one of them. Apart from good diabetes management, it also includes quitting smoking, anti-VEGF injections and laser treatment.
Laser treatment is recommended if anti-VGEF injections are either unavailable or are no longer reducing the number of new blood vessels created. Tiny laser burns to the retina allow for more oxygen and nutrients to reach the eye. This forces the retina to stop producing the growth hormones and the new blood vessels will close up on their own. In many cases, several sittings of the laser treatment will have to be carried out.
The treatment is usually carried out in a dark room where you will be asked to wear contact lenses. This is an outpatient procedure so you will not have to fast or be admitted. You can return home and resume normal activities soon after the procedure.
A few drops of anaesthesia will be put in the eye and you will be seated near a laser slit lamp that will release bursts of light in the same wavelength. This machine is highly accurate and each burst of light lasts for only 0.02 seconds. Typically, around 2,000 to 3,000 burns per session is the normal practice for PDR. You can experience blurring of the vision, but this should clear up in a few hours.
You can use platforms like PSTakeCare to find the list of retinal laser treatment PDR surgeons in India and also find reviews and comparisons on the same platform. You can also do a hospital search for retinal laser treatment.
Remember to follow your surgeon’s instructions and work towards controlling your diabetes through the dietary intake as well as exercise. Consult a good diabetes expert and make the changes in lifestyle as early as possible.