The Eye Institute©

The Eye Institute©

What is laser surgery?
Laser surgeries have become important in the treatment of different eye problems and diseases.
A laser is a tiny, powerful beam of light that can make a small burn or opening in the eye's tissue.

During the laser surgery, the eye is numbed so that there will be little or no pain. The eye doctor will then hold a special lens to the eye. The laser beam will be aimed into the eye, and a bright iight-like a camera flash-will be seen.

Are there risks associated with glaucoma laser surgeries?
Laser surgery is still surgery, and can carry some risks. Some people experience a short-term increase in their intraocular pressure (IOP) soon after surgery. In others who require YAG CP (Cyclophotocoagulation) surgery, there is a risk of the IOP dropping too low to maintain the eye's normal metabolism and shape. But the use of anti-glaucoma medication before and after surgery can help to reduce this risk.

Is there pain or discomfort with glaucoma laser surgery?
There is a slight stinging sensation associated with LPI and ALT. In YAG CP laser surgery, a local anesthetic is used to numb the eye. Once the eye has been numbed, there should be little or no pain and discomfort,

What are the long-term benefits of having glaucoma laser surgery? Will a repeat procedure be needed?
Glaucoma laser surgeries help to lower the IOP in the eye. The length of time the IOP is lowered will depend on the type of laser surgery, the type of glaucoma, age, race, and many other factors.
Some people may need the surgery repeated to get better control of the IOP, depending on the type of laser surgery done.

Is it common to have laser surgery over two sessions?
For people requiring ALT surgery, half of the fluid channels are usually treated first. Depending on the person's eye, the other fluid channels can be treated at a different time.
This method prevents over-correction and lowers the risk of an increased IOP after the surgery.

Will laser surgery eliminate the need for medications?
In most cases, medications will still be necessary to control and maintain eye pressure. However, surgery may lessen the amount of medication needed.

How much recovery time is needed after laser surgery?
Laser surgery is usually performed in an eye doctor's oft-ice or eye clinic. Before the surgery, the eye will be numbed by medicine. The eye may be a bit irritated and vision may be slightly blurry after laser surgery. A ride home on the day of the surgery should be arranged. In general, patients can resume their normal daily activities the day after the surgery. But it is important to discuss any questions or concerns about laser surgery with the eye doctor.

Does glaucoma laser surgery increase the risk for developing cataracts?
There is a small risk of developing cataracts after some types of laser surgery for glaucoma. However, the potential benefits of the surgery usually outweigh any risks. There is a common myth that lasers can be used to remove cataracts; this is not the case except in experimental studies.
After a cataract has been taken out with conventional cutting surgery, there often remains an outer membrane lens capsule. This membrane can slowly thicken and cloud vision, just as the cataract did.

Laser surgery can open this membrane, helping to clear vision without an operation. This laser procedure is called a capsulotomy.

What are the different laser surgeries used in glaucoma?
The type of laser surgery used will depend on the type of glaucoma and the general health of the eye.
The most common glaucoma laser surgeries is:

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
Used in people with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). A type of laser surgery that uses a combination of frequencies allowing the laser to work at very low levels. It treats specific cells "selectively" and leaves untreated portions of the trabecular meshwork intact. For this reason, it is believed that SLT, unlike other types of laser surgery, may be safely repeated many times.