How is my Optic Nerve,
Doctor?
Doctor?
Management
Laser Surgery
If medical treatment is not effective enough, poorly tolerated, or not taken as recommended, laser surgery may be considered. Laser treatment for glaucoma (laser trabeculoplasty) has only been available since 1978. Laser trabeculoplasty, like some medications, increases the drainage of aqueous humour to lower eye pressure.
The ophthalmologist uses the laser to place small burn marks on the trabecular meshwork. The laser does not create any drainage holes, but rather appears to stimulate the diseased drain to function more effectively (Figure 2). Laser therapy is usually added when eye drop treatment is not effective enough. Although laser therapy does not require the use of eye drops to be effective, most patients have to continue their medical therapy afterwards. The effect of the laser treatment is not immediate. It usually takes at least four to six weeks before your doctor will know the amount of pressure lowering obtained.
Laser surgery can be completed in an office within 15 to 20 minutes. It is a relatively painless procedure. The total office time required for laser surgery is approximately 2 to 3 hours. Patients are examined prior to the laser treatment, and their intraocular pressure is monitored for a few hours after the laser treatment. Intraocular pressure is monitored because it may increase in a small number of patients shortly after laser treatment. Laser trabeculoplasty effectively lowers the eye pressure more than three-quarters of the time. It may not be effective in about onequarter of treated patients. Even when it is effective (initially), the effect is often temporary. More than 10% of patients in whom it is initially effective will fall out of control each year. When laser surgery is used alone, more than half of patients require additional eye drops within two years. For patients in whom the laser treatment was initially effective in controlling the intraocular pressure, a repeat of laser trabeculoplasty may be successful.
Laser therapy is usually added when eye drop treatment is not effective enough.
If medical treatment is not effective enough, poorly tolerated, or not taken as recommended, laser surgery may be considered. Laser treatment for glaucoma (laser trabeculoplasty) has only been available since 1978. Laser trabeculoplasty, like some medications, increases the drainage of aqueous humour to lower eye pressure.
The ophthalmologist uses the laser to place small burn marks on the trabecular meshwork. The laser does not create any drainage holes, but rather appears to stimulate the diseased drain to function more effectively (Figure 2). Laser therapy is usually added when eye drop treatment is not effective enough. Although laser therapy does not require the use of eye drops to be effective, most patients have to continue their medical therapy afterwards. The effect of the laser treatment is not immediate. It usually takes at least four to six weeks before your doctor will know the amount of pressure lowering obtained.
Laser surgery can be completed in an office within 15 to 20 minutes. It is a relatively painless procedure. The total office time required for laser surgery is approximately 2 to 3 hours. Patients are examined prior to the laser treatment, and their intraocular pressure is monitored for a few hours after the laser treatment. Intraocular pressure is monitored because it may increase in a small number of patients shortly after laser treatment. Laser trabeculoplasty effectively lowers the eye pressure more than three-quarters of the time. It may not be effective in about onequarter of treated patients. Even when it is effective (initially), the effect is often temporary. More than 10% of patients in whom it is initially effective will fall out of control each year. When laser surgery is used alone, more than half of patients require additional eye drops within two years. For patients in whom the laser treatment was initially effective in controlling the intraocular pressure, a repeat of laser trabeculoplasty may be successful.
Laser therapy is usually added when eye drop treatment is not effective enough.