Laser surgery

Laser surgery of the retina is used to treat a variety of conditions, with each requiring a different type of application. Several pulses of laser are usually applied during the procedure, with each pulse creating a very small scar.

Common conditions treated with laser surgery include retinal tears, retinal holes, and diabetic retinopathy. Please refer to the other topics in the Education section for more information about these specific conditions.

Laser surgery is typically performed in the office using the same microscope used to examine the eye. The procedure itself lasts several minutes. There can be variable degrees of discomfort with the laser, although it is by and large very tolerable. Because the laser light itself is very bright, vision will be momentarily abnormal after the procedure for a few minutes—as if the eye had been subjected to several hundred flashbulbs.

COVID-19 Update

Retina Centers of Washington COVID-19 Safety Protocol

Dear Valued Patients and Friends,

We are truly grateful for the love and support you’ve provided us over the past few months as we navigated through the pandemic. With your continued support, we have been able to stay open, through this entire pandemic, to treat our patients' essential eye care needs.

The safety of our patients, and our staff members, is our top priority; therefore, we have implemented safety protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Here are some of our new safety procedures that are currently in place for when you visit our office(s).

Prior to Your Appointment:

· You will be pre-screened over the phone when scheduling your appointment.

· If you have symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, we ask that you call and reschedule your appointment.

· If you have been exposed to anyone with the virus, we ask that you call and reschedule your appointment.

· We will minimize the number of people in the practice (please come alone unless there is a true need for someone to accompany you).

· We request that anyone accompanying you to wait safely in their car, unless it is truly necessary for them to come into your appointment with you. We truly appreciate your cooperation on this.

Once You arrive:

· We are requiring all patients to arrive wearing a mask (we will provide one if needed), and that it is properly worn through the entire visit.

· We will check your temperature upon your arrival.

· We request that patients use hand sanitizer upon arrival and departure of our office.

· We have reduced the number of chairs in the waiting area to respect physical distance protocol.

· All magazines and brochures have been removed.

Staff and Strict Cleaning Protocols:

· We complete daily prescreening for COVID symptoms for Staff, and Doctors.

· All Staff members will be using PPE and wearing masks at all times, including our providers. A face shield and gloves will be worn as needed.

· Our staff regularly performs surface cleaning of frequently touched areas throughout the day.

· Our waiting room, exam rooms, testing equipment, and other common areas are cleaned and sterilized after every patient appointment.

We thank you for your patience with all these changes, and for your cooperation as we continue to safely navigate through the pandemic. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 301-279-9124 and we will be glad to help you!