If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma and your prescription eye drops aren’t lowering your pressure enough or alleviating your symptoms, your eye doctor may recommend glaucoma laser surgery to relieve eye pressure and slow the progression of the disease.
Glaucoma is a sight-threatening condition that most often occurs when too much pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve. Unless the pressure can be lowered to the normal range, it can lead to ‘tunnel vision,’ a loss of peripheral vision.
While there’s no way to reverse vision loss caused by glaucoma, there are a number of treatments, including laser surgeries, that can lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) and help preserve your vision.
What Is Glaucoma Laser Treatment?
Laser treatments for glaucoma are non-invasive and usually performed in a clinic. The most effective way to lower eye pressure is to facilitate the outflow of eye fluid.
To accomplish this, the eye surgeon uses a laser to create new drainage channels or to expand the existing outflow channels in the eye. As fluid leaves, pressure in the eye decreases.
The two main types of glaucoma laser procedures are laser trabeculoplasty and laser peripheral iridotomy.
Laser Trabeculoplasty
If the drainage system of your eye – the trabecular meshwork, the area between the iris and the cornea – is still open but not allowing enough fluid to flow (open-angle glaucoma), your eye doctor will perform laser trabeculoplasty. The procedure involves focusing a laser on the trabecular meshwork to stimulate the removal of fluid from the eye.
Before the procedure, your eye surgeon will apply numbing drops to your eyes. Your eye doctor
will prescribe eye drops to relieve any inflammation or any discomfort following the procedure.
Laser Peripheral Iridotomy
Laser peripheral iridotomy treats closed-angle glaucoma, which occurs when the drainage channels of the eye become blocked. As a result, the pressure inside the eye suddenly spikes. This is a medical emergency.
To relieve eye pressure, the eye surgeon will use a laser to make an opening in the iris, the colored part of the eye, so fluid can flow out of the eye.
As with other laser eye procedures, the eye surgeon will apply numbing drops before the surgery. Following laser peripheral iridotomy you may experience:
- Blurry vision
- Inflammation
- Visual distortions
These symptoms usually subside after a few days or weeks. It’s important to attend all follow-up eye exams after laser surgery so your eye doctor can assess how your eyes are healing and whether the pressure has been successfully lowered.
If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma and if prescription eye drops aren’t working for you, schedule an appointment at Opthalmology Practice Name. We make your vision our top priority and proudly provide eye care services to patients in LOCATION1.
Our practice serves patients from CITY 1, CITY 2, CITY 3, and CITY 4, and surrounding communities.Frequently Asked Questions with DOCTOR
Q: Is laser surgery for glaucoma safe and effective?
A: Although complications can occur with any type of surgery, glaucoma laser surgery is safe and effective. Around 80% of glaucoma patients who have a trabeculoplasty report a reduction in their symptoms. Some patients experience side effects, such as blurred vision or corneal dryness, but many of these side effects go away within a few days or weeks.
Q: Are the results of laser surgery for glaucoma permanent?
A: Glaucoma laser surgery, such as trabeculoplasty, can reduce eye pressure for 1-3 years. Although you’re likely to need follow-up laser surgery, between procedures your eye pressure is likely to be much lower and your glaucoma symptoms reduced.