Q: My friend told me about a laser treatment that helps lower the eye pressure in cases of glaucoma. Is this better than using eye drops to lower the pressure?
A: Glaucoma is a condition of the eye where the drainage channel becomes less efficient at draining fluid from the eye thus allowing pressure within the eye, the IOP or intraocular pressure, to gradually increase. If high IOPs are left untreated, damage occurs to the optic nerve that could result in vision loss.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT, is a type of laser surgery that can be used to lower the intraocular pressure in glaucoma. It can be used as an initial treatment or when eye drop medications alone are not lowering the IOP enough or are causing significant side effects. Your eye doctor will make the final determination if you are a candidate for an SLT laser treatment.
SLT uses an advanced laser system to focus light energy on the internal drainage channel of the eye. It specifically targets the pigmented (melanin-containing) cells in the trabecular meshwork with a low-energy, short application of light. This starts a chemical and biological change in the tissue that allows the drain to work more efficiently, successfully lowering eye pressure more than 80% of the time. The effect of a successful SLT can last between 1-5 years and the procedure can be repeated although the effect may be reduced with repeat treatment.
SLT has been in use for more than 25 years in the United States and around the world. It is a safe, outpatient treatment that takes about ten minutes and can effectively reduce eye pressure for many patients with glaucoma. It is important to remember that an SLT is not a cure for glaucoma but one of the many tools to help keep IOP under control.
Keep in mind also that glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that requires life-long treatment and management differs from patient to patient depending on the nature and stage of your glaucoma. Most importantly, no matter the course of treatment for your glaucoma, the essential element is regular follow-ups, testing, and eye check-ups as frequently as recommended by your eye doctor.