What is Laser Trabeculoplasty?
Laser Trabeculoplasty (LT) can help to facilitate drainage of fluid from the eye and thereby lower intraocular pressure. In open angle glaucoma, the normal drainage site of the eye does not function normally; this drainage site is called the trabecular meshwork, and it encircles the iris (the colored part of the eye). During the procedure, an Argon laser beam is directed at the trabecular meshwork. If the laser is successful, changes occur in the trabecular meshwork that enable it to drain fluid more effectively.
At the Laurel Eye Clinic, our surgeons have access to Selective Lasers (SLT), which use a Nd:YAG laser beam. SLT can be used in patients with glaucoma that have already received a full treatment of ALT. It can also be used in patients who have never had ALT before.
When is SLT indicated?
Laser trabeculoplasty is generally recommended for patients with open angle glaucoma that continues to progress despite use of medications. Although less common, it may also be recommended prior to trying medical treatment. These decisions vary depending on the type of glaucoma, the stage of glaucoma, as well as other factors. The choice of which laser to use will be determined by the surgeon, who considers the anticipated tissue response, mechanisms of action at a cellular level, and the needs of the patient.
What should I expect if I have laser trabeculoplasty?
The procedure is an outpatient procedure that can usually be done in the eye doctor’s office. You are seated at a slit-lamp with your forehead resting against a headpiece and your chin resting in a chinrest. After some eye drops are put in the eye in order to numb the eye, a lens will be placed on your eye. This will prevent you from blinking and will also minimize your eye movements. The lens also helps to direct the laser light into your eye. The laser, which is attached to the slit lamp equipment, is then directed into the eye. The procedure usually takes a few minutes. Most people experience minimal discomfort during the procedure. After the laser, you may experience some irritation in the eye and some blurry vision, but this is largely resolved after a day or two. You will usually have your eye pressure checked one hour after the laser procedure. You are then usually seen the day after the laser procedure and then the following week. The number and frequency of visits after the laser is variable and depends on your type of glaucoma and on the judgment of your doctor. Because only half of the trabecular meshwork is treated at one time, you may need another laser procedure if the pressure is not sufficiently lowered.
Will the laser treatment cure my glaucoma?
No. Any vision that is already lost prior to the laser treatment, in general, will not return. The laser procedure only lowers your eye pressure. By lowering the eye pressure, the goal is to either stop or slow down your loss of vision. Sometimes this goal is not possible.
Can I stop my glaucoma eye drops after the laser?
Because it takes a few weeks to determine the full effect of the laser treatment, you will need to be on the same glaucoma eye drops in the immediate period after the laser treatment. Sometimes it is possible to decrease the number of glaucoma eye drops that you are on. Even if you are on the same glaucoma medications after the laser treatment, the laser is still successful if your pressure is lower. The long-term need for eye drops varies greatly and is determined by your type of glaucoma and the rate it is progressing.
What are some risks of laser surgery?
All laser procedures have some risks. Laser treatment is not done unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Risks include, but are not limited to, inflammation, eye pressure elevations, and vision loss. In general, serious risks are not common, however, you may want to discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor should you have any further questions. In general, loss of vision after a laser treatment is usually from progression of the glaucoma disease and not from the procedure itself. Sometimes the laser procedure needs to be repeated.