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Laser surgery has been
used extensively for a lot of retinal disorders. The laser is usually
attached to a slitlamp. With the patient’s head mounted on the slitlamp, the
laser beam is applied through a contact lens into the patient’s eye. This is
usually done under topical anesthesia. Other laser sources are attached to
the indirect opthalmoscope. In this set-up, the procedure may be done with
the patient sitting down or lying on his back. Endolaser is another way of
delivering laser into the eye. It is done during vitrectomy or retinal
surgery. This makes use of a fiberoptic probe which is introduced into the
patient’s eye, the tip of which delivers the laser close to the retina.
In diabetic retinopathy,
focal laser may be employed to seal abnormally leaking vessels to decrease
swelling of the retina for
conditions such as macular edema. For proliferative diabetic retinopathy
where there is growth of abnormal blood vessels in the
vitreous cavity, pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) is usually the treatment
of choice. With PRP, the surgeon uses laser to destroy oxygen-deprived
retinal tissue outside of the patient’s central vision. While this creates
blind spots in the peripheral vision, PRP prevents the continued growth of
the fragile vessels and seals the leaking ones. The goal of the treatment is
to arrest the progression of the disease. Even with laser, some may still
continue to deteriorate. In these cases, other treatment options include
surgery or intravitreal steroid injection.
Small holes and tears are
also treated with laser surgery. These procedures are usually performed in
the doctor's office. During laser surgery tiny burns are made around the
hole to "weld" the retina back into place and prevent progression of retinal
detachment. One must still take note that laser scars take time to heal
(around 2 weeks) so the patient should continue to follow up with his
ophthalmologist.
In wet age-related macular degeneration, where there is growth of abnormal
vessels causing leakage of fluid into the macular area, a variety of laser
procedures are being utilized. Focal “hot” laser is used to seal off
abnormal leaking vessels located outside the macular area. On the other
hand, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) or “cold” laser is used to seal off
abnormal vessels located under the macular area. It is called “cold” laser
because it does not cause coagulation of retinal tissue. This procedure
employs the use of a photosensitive dye called verteporfin which is injected
intravenously through the arm. The dye is allowed to circulate in the body
and later concentrates in the abnormal vessels. The laser is then used to
activate the dye, sealing off the abnormal vessels selectively. This way,
retinal tissue is spared during the procedure.
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Please call your local eye care
professional for more information.
There are several ways of reaching the ophthalmologists of the
EYE REPUBLIC Ophthalmology Clinic:
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Visit the EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic website at
EyeRepublic.com.ph.
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Visit the Ophthalmic
Consultants Philippines Co. website at
OCP.com.ph.
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Email
help@EyeRepublic.com.ph for
general inquiries. After writing down your comments,
suggestions, problems and/or questions, kindly tell us how
to get in touch with you by providing your name, email,
home/office numbers, and mobile phone.
-
Place a blog
comment at the
EYE REPUBLIC Blog.
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EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
Manila
3/F Don Santiago
Building (DSB) Units 309-310
1344 Taft
Avenue, Ermita
Manila,
1000 Philippines
Direct and Fax: +63 (2)
536-2398
Trunk line: +63 (2) 523-8271 to 79 local 30
Cellular line: +63 (917) 899-2020
Map and directions
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EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
Asian Hospital
and Medical Center
5/F Medical Office
Building (MOB) Suite 509
2205 Civic Drive,
Filinvest, Alabang
Muntinlupa City,
1781 Philippines
Direct: +63 (2) 771-9253
Direct and Fax: +63 (2) 771-9254
Cellular line: +63 (917) 795-2020
Map and Directions
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EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
Medical City
6/F
Medical Arts Tower (MATI) Suite 602
MERALCO Compound, Ortigas
Ave.
Pasig City,
1604 Philippines
Direct and Fax: +63 (2) 632-7846
Cellular line: +63 (917) 537-2020
Map and Directions
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EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
St. Luke's
Medical Center
6/F
Cathedral Heights Building Complex (CHBC) North
Tower Suite 614
279 E. Rodriguez
Sr. Boulevard
Quezon City, 1102
Philippines
Direct and Fax:
+63 (2) 407-3883
Cellular line: +63 (917) 855-2020
Map and directions
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CLINIC HOURS
Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
All clinics are
closed on
Sundays and Holidays
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RETINAL LASER information compiled by
Dr. Michael
Santos and initially uploaded on May 1, 2004.
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