Laser surgeries for glaucoma
How successful is laser surgery for glaucoma?
How long does it take to recover from glaucoma laser surgery?
Is laser surgery for glaucoma painful?
What is the best surgery for glaucoma?
How successful is laser surgery for glaucoma?
SLT lowers the IOP by about 30% when used as initial therapy. This is comparable to the IOP lowering of the most powerful and commonly used class of glaucoma medication (prostaglandin analogs). This effect may be reduced if the patient is already on glaucoma medications. The effect will generally last between 1-5 years, and in some cases, longer than that. If it does not last at least 6-12 months, it is usually not considered successful.
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How long does it take to recover from glaucoma laser surgery?
You can usually have laser surgery in your doctor’s office or an outpatient eye clinic. The doctor will numb your eyes. You shouldn’t feel much or even any pain during the treatment. You might notice a slight sting or burn.
While you lie still, your doctor will hold a special lens up to your eye, then aim the laser at the exact spot where you need treatment. It may look like a very quick, bright flash.
Your eyesight may be a little blurry right after the treatment. It may feel a little sore, too. In a couple of hours, the doctor will check your eye pressure. You’ll need someone to drive you home after the surgery.
You may need to stay on your medications after laser surgery to keep your eye pressure under control.
Both filtration surgery and glaucoma laser surgery recovery periods have similar timeframes. You can expect about a month for a full recovery. Quicker recovery periods last about 3 weeks. While a more involved recovery may take up to 6 weeks time.
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Is laser surgery for glaucoma painful?
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.
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What is the best surgery for glaucoma?
The main treatments are described below.
- Eye drops
Eye drops are the main treatment for glaucoma. There are several different types that can be used, but they all work by reducing the pressure in your eyes.
They're normally used between 1 and 4 times a day. It's important to use them as directed, even if you haven't noticed any problems with your vision. Your sight is at risk if you don't stick to the recommended treatment.
You may need to try several types before you find the one that works best for you. Sometimes you may need to use more than one type at a time.
Eye drops can cause unpleasant side effects, such as eye irritation, and some aren't suitable for people with certain underlying conditions.
To apply eye drops:
- use your finger to gently pull down your lower eyelid
- hold the bottle over your eye and allow a single drop to fall into the pocket you have created in your lower eyelid
- close your eye and keep it closed for a few minutes
If you're using different types of eye drops, allow at least 5 minutes between using the different types.
After you have put in the eye drops, gently press in the inside corner of the eye (over the eyelid) for about a minute. This reduces the drainage of the eye drop from the eye, which helps to increase its effect. It also helps to reduce any side effects.
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- Laser treatment
Laser treatment may be recommended if eye drops don't improve your symptoms.
This is where a high-energy beam of light is carefully aimed at part of your eye to stop fluid building up inside it.
Types of laser treatment include:
- laser trabeculoplasty – a laser is used to open up the drainage tubes within your eye, which allows more fluid to drain out and reduces the pressure inside
- cyclodiode laser treatment – a laser is used to destroy some of the eye tissue that produces the liquid, which can reduce pressure in the eye
- laser iridotomy – a laser is used to create holes in your iris to allow fluid to drain from your eye
Laser treatment is usually carried out while you're awake. Local anaesthetic drops are used to numb your eyes – you may just feel a brief twinge of pain or heat during the procedure.
You may still need to use eye drops after having laser treatment.
- Surgery
Surgery may be recommended in rare cases where treatment with eye drops or laser haven't been effective.
The most common type of surgery for glaucoma is called trabeculectomy. It involves removing part of the eye-drainage tubes to allow fluid to drain more easily.
Glaucoma surgery may be carried out under local anaesthetic (while you're awake) or general anaesthetic (while you're asleep).
Most people won't need to take eye drops any more after trabeculectomy, and you shouldn't be in a lot of pain after surgery.
Your doctor should discuss which type of surgery they recommend, as well as any risks and benefits, before you decide whether to go ahead.
Other types of glaucoma surgery include:
- trabeculotomy – similar to a trabeculectomy, but an electric current is used to remove a small part of the eye-drainage tubes
- viscocanalostomy – part of the white outer covering of the eyeball (the sclera) is removed so fluid can drain from your eye more easily
- deep sclerectomy – the drainage tubes in your eye are widened, sometimes by implanting a tiny device inside them
- trabecular stent bypass – a tiny tube is placed into your eye to increase the drainage of fluid
After surgery, your eye might water and be red, and your vision may be slightly blurred for up to 6 weeks but should return to normal.
The hospital will give you advice about which activities you can do while you recover. Most people are advised to keep their eye dry, and avoid driving, reading and heavy lifting for at least a week.
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