How can laser surgery
help treat my glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a chronic disease in which
high fluid pressure within the eye can cause progressive damage
to the nerve which transmits visual signals from the eye to
the brain. There are two main forms of glaucoma: open angle
(the more common) and closed angle.
Open angle glaucoma, a painless disease,
does not cause visual symptoms until significant damage has
occurred. Diagnosing open angle glaucoma early, through periodic
eye exams, is crucial. High eye pressure in open angle glaucoma
is usually treated initially with eyedrops. More recently,
laser surgery (SLT-Selective
Laser Trabecuolpasty) has been shown to be an effective
first line treatment as well. Laser trabeculoplasty is a safe,
painless, outpatient procedure that effectively lowers eye
pressure. Even so, eye drops may still be necessary as a supplement
to laser trabeculoplasty to effectively lower the intra-ocular
pressure to safe levels.
Angle closure glaucoma, by contrast, is an eye emergency
that causes severe pain and blurred vision. It requires immediate
treatment to prevent blindness. In angle closure glaucoma,
laser treatment called peripheral
iridotomy lowers eye pressure by opening the closed internal
drainage channel. Fortunately, angle closure glaucoma is not
only treatable but also preventable. In patients who are at
risk (as determined by examination) for developing
angle closure, preventative laser
treatment effectively eliminates
this risk.
The laser is truly a remarkable tool which, when used by
a skilled ophthalmologist, can help to prevent loss of vision
due to glaucoma.
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