Question
QUESTION: I have had laser surgery 3 times for bleeds in my retina. My retina specialist says it is not the laser that causes the vision loss each time but it is the diease. This is confusing because each time he does the laser treatment I lose more vision when my vision is good and clear prior to the laser. Each time gets blurrier and affects my long and lcose vision. Can you clarify what occurs to vision each time the laser is performed?
ANSWER: Dear Kathy,
The bleed needs to be stopped ...otherwise it spreads and in your line of vision you see a shadow.
If not lasered in time (Argon), then this can cause more damage to your vision.
The Argon laser only coagulates the active bleed.
For this your eyes need to be dilated well (the effect of this dilation makes vision fuzzy even when recovering).
Also, the blood that has escaped in the retina has to be absorbed before you start seeing better, until this absorption, vision is poor.
It may also help to speak to your doctor to find out if there are any other retinal issues which prevent you from better vision.
Best,
Hope this helps,
Dr Anand Shroff
www.shroffeye.org
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So your indicating my vision should be better after the laser procedure? Because mine is worse. I also have a condition called psuedo tumor or intracranial hypertension.
I guess what I did not understand was why my vision was worse after the surgery rather than improved. Does the retinal bleed affect the vision after it is stopped? I know it clamps off the unstable vessels that grow from the bleed but was not sure why my vision was worse after the fact not just a day or two after the procedure.
Answer
Dear Kathy,
Only your treating surgeon can answer this as there are many factors in the eye which affect vision, and like you describe if you have more than one condition, it may not be very simple to put it down without an examination or knowing your case.
Best to be open and ask your doctor...I am sure that once he knows your concern, he will address the same.
Regards,
Dr Shroff
