Why Do You Need To Get Laser Glaucoma Surgery?

A group of eye conditions known as glaucoma can result in vision loss and blindness by harming the optic nerve at the back of the eye. Some glaucoma types may benefit from Laser Glaucoma Surgery. It is a procedure that can be completed in the eye doctor’s office. It assists in the drainage of the fluid within your eye, which can lower the pressure there. Consult your eye doctor to know if laser treatment is right for you.

Some doctors use laser surgery as an initial treatment before beginning drops as it has grown in popularity as a middle option for treating glaucoma between medications and traditional surgery. The first line of glaucoma treatment is rarely surgery, but if other measures fail, it might be able to save your vision.

Do Your Glaucoma Require Laser Treatment?

Open-angle glaucoma is treated with trabeculoplasty, a laser procedure (tra-BECK-you-low-plas-tee). Other forms of laser therapy are available to treat various forms of glaucoma.

Discuss all of your glaucoma treatment options with your eye doctor, including prescription medications, laser surgery, and other procedures. Making the best treatment plan for you is something you and your doctor can do together. During your laser surgery, your doctor will:

• Make your eye numb by putting drops in it.
• Use a special lens to direct a laser (a powerful light beam) toward your eye.
• To assist in the drainage of fluid from your eye, try using the laser.
• Throughout the procedure, there could be bright red or green light flashes.
• During the course of treatment, most patients experience little to no pain or discomfort.

If you have glaucoma in both of your eyes, your doctor might treat both of them on the same day, or they might treat one eye and plan to treat the other one a few days or a few weeks later.

The day after the Laser surgery for eye pressure, most people can resume their regular daily activities. You’ll need a ride home from the doctor’s office because your eye may be irritated, and your vision may be cloudy right after the procedure.

Are There Any Negative Effects?

Like any procedure, laser therapy has potential risks. There could be some swelling or soreness. Laser treatments can occasionally cause the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye, to become extremely dry or scratched. Although it may hurt, the discomfort typically passes quickly as the cornea heals. You can receive eye drops from your doctor to help.

Bottom Line

Laser Glaucoma Surgery is very effective for most patients, but it isn’t effective in every case. You’ll need to wait 4-6 weeks to learn if the treatment was successful. The majority of patients will still require glaucoma medication after laser treatment. You’ll also require a few follow-up appointments for your doctor to check your eye pressure.

Some individuals may require multiple laser treatments due to the treatment’s gradual wear-off. Other therapies, such as glaucoma surgery, may also be recommended by your doctor.