What is the difference between EVLA and radial fibre EVLA?

EVLA, or laser treatment of varicose veins, is the gold standard treatment for most patients. It provides a quick, reliable, safe, effective and long-lasting solution to the symptoms and appearance of varicose veins.

Most EVLA is carried out using simple bare-laser fibres, as originally described by Min et al. This is still highly effective, but some patients do experience discomfort usually after about a week. This is not normally severe and it rarely prevents normal work or social activities but, in order to minimise such discomfort, new and more sophisticated laser fibres have been developed. The most common of these new fibres is the so-called radial fibre. This emits the laser light in a 360-degree arc around the end of the fibre, rather than as a thin beam straight ahead.

There is some evidence that these radial fibres provide a more comfortable recovery than the standard bare fibres. There is no other benefit, because the outcomes and safety of bare and radial fibres are otherwise identical.

If, however, you wish to minimise the possibility of having pain after the EVLA treatment, you may want to consider requesting the radial fibre. The downside is that radial fibres are more complex and thus more expensive. A premium of £200 is charged for the use of the radial-fibre option.