Dr. Daniel Pierre and The Cleveland Eye Clinic Introduce Breakthrough Treatment for Eye Floaters
The Cleveland Eye Clinic has announced the introduction of Laser Floater Removal, a highly effective treatment for floaters. A minimally invasive, in-office procedure, Laser Floater Removal can provide much-needed relief for floaters and potentially delay or obviate the need for vitrectomy surgery. Floaters are small pieces of debris that float in the eye’s vitreous humor (the jelly-like substance in the main chamber of the eye). Often described as cobweb or cloud-like shadows, this debris casts shadows onto the retina (the light sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye). Almost everyone over the age of 70 has floaters.
Daniel Pierre, M.D., of the Cleveland Eye Clinic, was the first doctor in Ohio to perform Vitreolysis. Dr. Pierre describes the new YAG laser used for Vitreolysis as “the newest generation YAG laser that enables this procedure to be done safely and efficaciously. Previous treatments were more difficult, less safe and less effective.”
Laser Floater Removal employs a specially designed YAG laser to vaporize floaters. During the procedure, the laser emits a short burst of energy lasting only 3 nanoseconds (0.000000003 seconds). Instead of simply breaking the floater into smaller pieces, the laser’s high-power density converts the collagen and hyaluronan molecules within the floater into a gas, which is then resorbed into the eye.
Unlike vitrectomy, which carries a significant risk of bleeding and infection, Laser Floater Removal is minimally invasive and carries a very low risk. Most patients will experience an almost immediate improvement in visual function and are able to return to normal day-to-day activities directly following the procedure. “We are excited to be among one of the first clinics in the United States to offer laser Floater Removal,” says Dr. Pierre.
“Typically, many of my patients describe floaters as ‘strands’ or ‘blobs’ obstructing their line of vision. This can significantly affect their day-to-day activities. Some patients even describe a relative scotoma effect, whereby a floater may obstruct characters on a page of small print. It is for these symptomatic patients that Laser Floater Removal offers the potential to deliver a notable improvement in functional vision.”
“Since adopting Laser Floater Removal into our practice I have now come to appreciate the negative effect that floaters can have on a patient’s quality of life. To date, the overwhelming response from my patients has been that floaters pose a major hindrance in their daily lives. As clinicians, I believe we must embrace the growing need to manage floaters – we can no longer diminish the effect that floaters have on a patient’s quality of life,” adds Dr. Daniel Pierre.
For more information contact Michelle Nelson at 216.299.4615 or go to [email protected]
