Types of Lasers

SLT (Selective Laser Tabeculoplasty)

SLT is used to lower pressure in the eye in patients that have open angle glaucoma. The laser works by focusing a beam of light onto the drainage canal of the eye and applying 50-80 spots in order to make the drainage canal start working better.

Patients can expect to see light and hear clicks during the procedure but experience no pain. This laser is one of the newest available and has many advantages: no bleeding or infection, pain-free, can be repeated multiple times as needed, causes no inflammation.

YAG PI (Yag Peripheral Iridotomy)

Yag PI is used for patients who have narrow drainage canals or narrow angle glaucoma. This is a potentially dangerous condition because of the risk of sudden angle closure followed by vision threatening increase in eye pressure.

PI creates a hole in the colored part of the eye, the iris in order to relieve the fluid that is building up behind a narrow drainage canal. Once this new pathway is created, the risk of angle closure is gone.

Patients can expect to see light and hear clicks during the procedure. They may also experience mild sensitivity or aching during laser application. The PI can also be repeated as needed.

ALI (Argon Laser Iridoplasty)

ALI is a special laser used for glaucoma patients with a particular condition called Plateau Iris Syndrome. These patients have an iris that is too anterior in the eye and tends to crowd the drainage canal as a result. This can lead to elevated eye pressures and glaucoma development.

ALI can be used to push the iris back and open the drainage canal. Laser spots are applied close to the edge of the iris where it meets the white part of the eye 360 degrees around in a circular fashion. Patients can expect to see light and hear clicks during the procedure. They may also experience mild sensitivity or aching during laser application.

Glaucoma Lasers Surgery

When medications are no longer adequate in controlling the progression of glaucoma, laser procedures can be used safely in the clinic to treat glaucoma. Glaucoma laser surgery is a non-invasive outpatient procedure that is performed in the office and has minimal risks to the patient.

The Procedure

On the day of laser treatment, patients are seen in the office for a total of 1 hour and are able to drive to and from the appointment without problems. Only one eye is treated at a time. The eye is prepped prior to laser with numbing and pressure drops.

Glaucoma laser is applied onto the patient’s eye using a magnification lens and a portable laser which delivers lasers energy only to the part of the eye where it is focused. There is no anesthesia needed other than numbing drops. The procedure takes about 5 minutes to undergo and is usually painless. After the laser, patients have to use eye drops for up to a week and have no limitations on their activities. A follow-up appointment is necessary to make sure everything went OK and is scheduled for 1-3 weeks after the procedure.