$Unique_ID{BRK02478}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{How Do Lasers Cure Spots Before Your Eyes?}
$Subject{seeing spots floating eyes eye retinal tear detachment images light
nerve impulses visual retina eyeball vitreous body collagen fibers special
procedure procedures laser operation operations see spot float tears image
nerves impulse vision Uveitis}
$Volume{P-21}
$Log{
Pathology of Uveitis*0016201.scf}

Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


How Do Lasers Cure Spots Before Your Eyes?


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QUESTION:  When mother complained about suddenly seeing lots of spots floating
around before her eyes, she consulted her eye doctor who rushed her off to the
hospital for immediate treatment.  As he described it, he used a laser to
"glue" the back of her eye back in place.  She is doing fine now, but can you
tell us what happened?  We do not live in the same town as Mother and find it
difficult to get the doctor on the phone.

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ANSWER:  Your Mother's problem was a retinal tear or detachment.  The retina
is the tissue at the back of the eye that translates the images of light into
nerve impulses.  When these impulses reach the brain, they are interpreted
into the visual images we see.  The retina is normally attached to the wall of
the eyeball, which supplies it with oxygen and nutrients through small blood
vessels.  In front of the retina, we find the vitreous body, which is a firm,
jelly like substance that fills a large portion of the ocular globe or
eyeball.
     As we grow older, the vitreous becomes softer and may pull away from the
retina causing a break or tear to occur.  When fluid from the vitreous seeps
through these breaks, it can cause the retina to detach from the wall of the
eye.  If the delicate nerve tissue of the retina loses contact with its
nourishing arteries from the wall of the eyeball, it soon dies and vision is
lost.
     The spots or floaters were composed of collagen fibers that tie the
retina to the vitreous, and are a warning sign to the doctor that a tear in
the retina may have occurred.  Since early repair results in the best results,
rapid treatment is most advisable.  The laser beam passes through the clear
parts of the eye, and is focused precisely on the edge of the tear.  There,
its intense heat causes a small burn, leading to the formation of a scar,
which seals the tear, and fastens (or "glues") the retina back to the wall.
This treatment is highly effective in preventing any additional vision loss,
but sometimes must be repeated to obtain maximum results.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.