Surgery Overview

Laser photocoagulation is a type of laser surgery that uses an intense beam of light to burn small areas of the retina and the abnormal blood vessels beneath the macula. (See a picture of the eye.) The burns form scar tissue that seals the blood vessels, keeping them from leaking under the macula. By sealing the leaky blood vessels, laser photocoagulation slows down:

• The buildup of fluid under the retina that distorts the shape and position of the macula.
• The growth of scar tissue and the abnormal membrane under the retina, both of which damage the cells in the macula.
• Central vision loss.

Laser surgery may be done in a doctor's office or eye clinic using a local anesthetic that affects only the eye area. The surgery itself is painless. But your eye may hurt slightly after the surgery.

What To Expect After Surgery

Laser photocoagulation does not involve a hospital stay. You will need someone to pick you up at the doctor's office or clinic. Your pupils will be widened (dilated) for the surgery. And they will remain dilated for several hours. Wear sunglasses to keep bright light out of your eyes while they are dilated.

Your vision may be blurry. And your eye may hurt a little for a day or two after the surgery.

Why It Is Done

Laser photocoagulation is used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) only. But only about 15 out of 100 cases can be effectively treated with laser photocoagulation surgery.¹

The surgery works best when the abnormal blood vessels (choroidal neovascularization) are clustered close together in a specific area. Blood vessels that are scattered over a wider area are much harder to treat. Surgery is also less helpful after the abnormal blood vessels reach the center of the macula (fovea).

By finding the exact location of the abnormal blood vessels and scar tissue using a fluorescein angiogram, your doctor will decide whether you might benefit from treatment.

How Well It Works

Laser surgery will not restore vision that has already been lost because of macular degeneration. But it can sometimes slow down or delay further damage to a person's central vision. The growth of fragile new blood vessels in wet AMD recurs in about half of people within 3 years after surgery.² Even repeated treatment is not usually effective over the long term in preventing some loss of central vision.