Glaucoma laser treatment is used to lower the pressure in the eye. By lowering the eye pressure to a safe range, we can prevent further damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye.
The part of the eye where fluid normally drains out is a sponge-like meshwork. By treating this area with laser, we can allow fluid in the eye to drain more easily which will lower pressure in the eye.
How Well Treatment Works
Glaucoma laser treatment lowers pressure in about 80% of patients. The effect on the tissue lasts about 5-8 years. You can have repeat treatments with some glaucoma laser treatments and other types you can only have once.
Risks of Laser
The major risk of laser treatment is a rise in eye pressure for a short time, due to swelling. You will have extra eye drops other than your daily drops. Eye drops are placed before and right after the laser treatment to prevent pressure from rising. About 2 percent of patients will have a rise in pressure that requires other medicine and, very rarely, surgery. This change in pressure should not affect your vision.
Other risks include mild redness and inflammation of the eye. If needed, this is treated with drops for a few days after the treatment. Rarely, you might have a tiny bleed in your eye or changes in the cornea. This will only last a short time.
Often, vision is slightly blurred after the laser from the gel used. Some patients have slight pain after the treatment. You may use artificial tears often. Use Tylenol to treat pain if needed.
Treatment
When you arrive at the clinic, we will place eye drops to prevent a rise in pressure. Some patients have a mild headache for a short time from these drops.
Just before the laser treatment, we place a drop in the eye to make it numb.
We will place a special contact lens on your eye to direct the laser light in the eye. This lens also prevents blinking and helps to steady the eye. We will use a gel on the lens to make smooth contact with your eye.
Then we send pulses of light (bright flashes) while slowly turning the contact lens. You may feel mild stinging but there should not be pain from the laser.
After the treatment, we will wash the gel out of your eye. We will also give you another drop of medicine to lower pressure in your eye.
After the laser treatment, we will check the pressure in the eye at least 30 minutes later. We may give you a prescription for eye drops to take 4 times a day for 4-5 days. Once home, you should keep taking your other glaucoma medicines as directed by your doctor.
We will have you come back to the clinic for a pressure check after several weeks.
When to Call
Call if you have any questions or concerns.
Who to Call
University Station Eye Clinic
Monday—Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm
(608) 263-7171
When the clinic is closed, your call will be sent to the paging operator. Ask for the “eye resident on call.” Give your name and phone number with area code. The doctor will call you back.
The toll-free number is:
1-800-323-8942. Ask to be transferred to the above number.