Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a common eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in people over 60. It occurs due to damage within the optic nerve when fluid builds up in the eye and causes increased pressure. When detected early, eye damage due to glaucoma is usually preventable.

What is glaucoma laser treatment?

Glaucoma laser treatment is a common solution for glaucoma, especially if you’re unable to tolerate eye drops. It uses light to correct problems linked to glaucoma, drain fluid from your eyes, and reduce pressure. You may be a candidate for the procedure if medication hasn’t slowed the progression of glaucoma. 

Two common types of glaucoma laser treatments include:

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) 

SLT is a glaucoma laser treatment that reduces intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma if eye drops haven’t worked or cause bothersome side effects.

Laser iridotomy (LI) 

LI is an effective treatment for patients with a condition called narrow-angle glaucoma or its risk factors. It also helps prevent this eye disease.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

While glaucoma often doesn’t have any symptoms in the early stages, your ophthalmologist can still detect it during routine eye exams. Symptoms that may develop over time if glaucoma is left untreated include:

• Patchy blind spots in peripheral vision
• Central vision problems
• Blurry vision
• Eye pain
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Colored rings or halos around lights
• Glare around lights
• Difficulty seeing from one eye

Risk factors for developing glaucoma include aging, family history of glaucoma, and having thin corneas. 

Is glaucoma laser treatment right for me?

To determine if you have glaucoma, what type of glaucoma you have, and how severe it is, the NY Partners Ophthalmology team analyzes your symptoms, medical history, and eye health history. 

They evaluate your vision, complete a comprehensive eye exam, and offer diagnostic tests that assess pressure within your eyes. 

Your provider may recommend healthy lifestyle changes, eye drops, medications, laser treatment, other medical procedures, glaucoma surgery, or combinations of more than one treatment to achieve superior results with the lowest risk of complications.

Dr. Siu is a skilled surgeon, and offers minimally invasive glaucoma treatment to her patients. These procedures, often referred to as MIGS, are an ideal option for those looking to improve their symptoms and find relief from the troublesome weight of glaucoma. Certain clinical trials have even shown that MIGS procedures aid a significant decrease in eye pressure over time, along with a decrease in prescription eye drop usage.  

What happens during glaucoma laser treatment?

During glaucoma laser treatment, which your ophthalmologist completes right in the office, you receive eye drops to numb your eyes and enhance comfort. They use a small laser to alter tissues, improve drainage, and minimize pressure. Recovery time is minimal and the full effects of glaucoma laser treatment often take several weeks. 

Call the NY Partners Ophthalmology office to learn more about glaucoma laser treatment, or schedule an appointment online today.