The purpose of glaucoma treatment is to lower and control intraocular pressure (IOP). It may take a combination of methods to achieve this. The first step in most glaucoma treatment plans includes oral medication and/or eye drops. If this is not sufficient enough to control IOP, surgery may be necessary.
The goal of treatment is to stop further vision loss from occurring, but cannot bring back any vision lost to glaucoma. This is why early diagnosis of glaucoma is key to preventing vision loss and blindness.
SLT is typically recommended after having been unsuccessfully treated using medications. If you want to decrease or eliminate the use of eye drops, this treatment may be beneficial as well.
The goal of SLT is to treat open angle glaucoma patients by helping drain fluid from the eye. This treatment prevents damage to the optic nerve and the resulting vision loss. During this procedure, your surgeon will focus a laser through a special lens. This laser will start a chemical and biological change in the tissue of the eye that allows for better drainage, therefore lowering IOP. It can take a few months to see results from this procedure.
Laser iridotomy uses a focused beam of light to create a hole on the outer edge of the iris. This hole allows fluid to properly drain from the eye, alleviating high IOP. This procedure is generally performed on people with narrow angle glaucoma, which is a medical emergency.
ECP has been shown to decrease dependence on medications for patients with glaucoma. This procedure is started by creating an incision in the periphery of the cornea to gain access to the ciliary body. The ciliary body is responsible for creating the fluid that nourishes the inside of your eye. When this fluid is being overproduced, or if it is not able to drain properly, glaucoma can occur.
The next step in this procedure includes the use of an endoscopic laser to ablate the ciliary processes, which will reduce IOP.
Have you been diagnosed with glaucoma? Consider Tyson Eye for your glaucoma treatment! Our glaucoma experts are experienced and skilled at finding the perfect treatment to preserve your vision. Contact our Naples office to schedule an appointment with us today!
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The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or the other qualified health care provider.
