DONATE NOWHow Laser Treatment for Glaucoma Helps Lower Eye Pressure
Laser treatment for glaucoma can help lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and manage different types of glaucoma. Depending on the type and severity of glaucoma, doctors may use procedures such as laser iridotomy, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), or cyclophotocoagulation to improve fluid drainage or reduce fluid production inside the eye. This range of approaches allows doctors to tailor treatment to each patient’s individual needs.
Laser Iridotomy and Laser Iridoplasty
Doctors use laser surgery to treat both narrow-angle and open-angle glaucoma. Laser iridoplasty and laser iridotomy are common procedures, especially for narrow-angle or closed-angle glaucoma.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) for Glaucoma
Doctors use Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) as a laser treatment for glaucoma to help control intraocular pressure. The glaucoma clinic performs all laser procedures on an outpatient basis. Afterward, patients usually experience minimal pain and can resume normal activities immediately. Your doctor or technician will check the eye pressure approx 30 minutes to an hour after the procedure before you go home. The clinic will send you home with anti-inflammatory eye drops and schedule a post-operative appointment. Indeed, one advantage of laser treatment for glaucoma is a quick recovery time compared to traditional surgeries.
Diode Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC)
Doctors perform Diode Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) to control intraocular pressure by reducing the eye’s fluid production. In laser treatment for glaucoma, a diode laser is used to target the ciliary processes, limiting aqueous humor formation. Therefore, surgeons use a diode laser to coagulate these processes with laser light. They usually perform this procedure in an operating room under anesthesia to ensure comfort and safety. Surgeons apply the laser with a special probe, either during cataract surgery or alone, in a procedure called Endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP). Another way to treat the ciliary processes is to deliver the laser light through the wall of the eye using a special probe placed over the surface of the eye (CPC). Doctors usually recommend this procedure when the vision prognosis is poor or other surgical options have failed.
For more information about laser treatment for glaucoma, visit the National Eye Institute’s overview of glaucoma treatment. If you have questions about glaucoma or are considering laser treatment for glaucoma, consult a qualified eye doctor for guidance.