TREATMENT


The Control Desk where you are carefully monitored

Why Is There A Final Simulation And When Is It?

This simulation is the final test we do, to ensure that your plan is correct and that treatment can proceed. It takes place on the Monday of the treatment week and is not needed for patients with Age Related Macula Degeneration.

What Happens At Final Simulation?

The chair is positioned as it was for your first simulation and you will be asked again to look through the small red light. If you have had clips inserted we will take X-ray photos to confirm that the clips are in the position predicted by our computer plan. If you have an area on your iris to be treated, we will check that the light pattern covers the treatment area and that your eyelids are out of the way. The final simulation is usually simple and quick, but we must confirm that your treatment plan works in practice. If needed, any minor adjustments can now be made.

What Happens During Treatment?

You will have four daily sessions, from Tuesday to Friday. Your treatment is set up exactly as in the Treatment Program Preparation (pt 4), except that the radiographer will put a couple of drops of local anaesthetic into your eye. This will prevent your eye from blinking during treatment. There will also now be a picture of your eye on a TV screen, on the control desk (pictured above).
When we are sure that your eye is correctly positioned, the therapy physicist will leave the room, while the radiographer will stay with you. Only when the physicist is happy with the position of your eye on the TV monitor, will the radiographer also leave. At this point, the clearance button is pressed and you will hear a siren. If your eye is still correctly positioned, we will start the treatment, which takes about 30 seconds. You will feel nothing!
During this time, both the radiographer and the physicist will watch you, and if your eye moves the treatment will be paused. If necessary, changes will be made so that the treatment is given correctly. The whole procedure, from start to finish, takes about 20 minutes each day. The rest of the day can then be yours. While the anesthetic wears off, you will be given a swab to wear over your eye. This can be removed after one hour and, as long as you are careful, you will be able to drive.