With this procedure, your retina specialist will use a laser to repair the retinal tear by surrounding it, preventing it from getting bigger. It also prevents fluid from getting behind the tear. This treatment has another name — photocoagulation. The laser burns your tissue and makes scars that cause the tear to heal.
The repair means that fluid won’t collect behind the break and won’t turn the torn piece into a full-scale retinal detachment.
Photocoagulation takes about 15 minutes.