Can lasers be used to treat glaucoma?
Glaucoma laser treatment San Diego
Advancements in technology, including the development of more precise lasers, have led to many new treatment options in the field of ophthalmology. Laser vision correction is one of the best-known uses of lasers, but eye doctors can now use lasers in a variety of other ways, including the treatment of glaucoma.
How are lasers used to treat glaucoma? Is this an effective treatment option?
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a common condition in which fluids don’t drain properly from the eye, causing pressure to build up inside the eye. This pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. If the condition is left untreated, then over time, the damage to the optic nerve can lead to loss of vision.
Vision loss can be prevented by lowering the pressure inside the eye.
How is laser treatment used for glaucoma?
In people with glaucoma, the channels that drain fluid from the eye are partially blocked. (In rare cases, they become completely blocked, and this type of glaucoma is considered to be a medical emergency.) Lasers can be used to reopen these channels, allowing fluid to drain more quickly from the eye.
The most common type of laser treatment for glaucoma is called selective laser trabeculoplasty (sometimes known simply as laser trabeculoplasty), in which lasers are used on the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is a series of tiny channels that allow fluid to drain from the eye. It’s located between the cornea (the clear tissue at the front of the eye) and the iris (the colored part of the eye).
In people with open-angle glaucoma (the most common type), fluid drainage through the trabecular meshwork is slowed. During a selective laser trabeculoplasty procedure, a laser is used to open up these channels to allow fluid to drain more quickly. The procedure may need to be repeated later, because the drainage through the trabecular meshwork may slowly decrease over time.
In closed-angle glaucoma, the iris swells and presses against the cornea, which blocks the ability of fluid to drain. A procedure called laser peripheral iridotomy can be used to create a small hole in the iris, allowing fluid to drain out. Closed-angle glaucoma is less common than open-angle glaucoma, but it progresses faster.
In some cases, a laser can be used to affect the ciliary body, which is the tissue that produces fluid in the eye. This is known as laser cyclophotocoagulation. This procedure is typically tried later, if procedures that help fluid to drain have not been effective.
What are the alternatives to laser treatments for glaucoma?
Although laser treatment is commonly used for glaucoma, it’s not the only option. Another option is to use eye drops that help to lower the pressure inside the eye. In some cases, eye drops are tried first, while in other cases, laser is the initial form of treatment. Research has shown that laser treatment is at least as effective as eye drops, and is also more cost-effective.
When both eye drops and laser treatment are not effective, then surgery may be used. This may involve creating a small hole that allows fluid to drain from the eye. In general, surgery is performed on just one eye at a time, and patients are usually able to go home on the same day. Surgery is usually only considered after other treatment options have been tried.
Glaucoma laser treatment San Diego
Laser treatment for glaucoma is an effective treatment option. It can be used as the first line of treatment, or eye drops can be tried first, with laser being an option if eye drops are not effective.
Many people with glaucoma are not aware that they have it, because the symptoms are not always obvious until vision loss has begun. It’s important to get regular eye exams, including testing the pressure inside your eyes. When treatment is started early, vision loss can be prevented, but once it has occurred, vision loss is generally permanent.
If you’re in the greater San Diego area, we invite you to book an exam with one of our specialist eye doctors. We use the latest technology to provide the best possible treatment for our patients, including a variety of different types of laser treatment. Simply contact our front desk to book your appointment.
