Extensive blurriness after laser treatment for retinopathy

My mother had laser eye surgery for diabetic retinopathy in both eyes. She is still very blurry and it is one month after the right eye, and two weeks after the left eye was treated. She still has trouble reading license plates and signs that were easy for her before the treatment. Will her vision ever improve to what it was before the treatment? Her ophthalmologist is not saying much. Please tell me if this occurs in some people, and if she will regain her vision. Thanks! We're very worried!

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

It depends on what type of laser she had.  There are two types - PRP which means shooting the laser for 360 degrees around the edges of the retina, and focal which means shooting at specific areas of weak blood vessels in the macula, which is the part of the eye that is used for fine reading vision.  PRP can sometimes make the macula work less well for a few weeks.  Focal should not typically make the macula worse, but rather slowly better.  Ask your mom if she was treated by a retina surgeon. If not, and the poor vision persists, seek an opinion from a retina surgeon.  You can find one at www.aao.org.