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The Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a type of laser surgery that is used to decrease the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with inadequate control of their eye pressures or glaucoma.
This type of laser surgery will be effective in some patients but not in others. Your response is determined by the type of glaucoma you have and the specific anatomy of your drainage system.
The laser looks like the examination microscope that the doctor uses each visit to examine your eyes. The patient sits in a chair just like the regular eye exam station. Drops are placed into the eye to numb the eye. The doctor will place a small device on the eye itself and hold it there. As the laser is activated a click may be heard and you may see a flashes of light. The procedure itself takes about 10-20 minutes.
The procedure works by applying laser energy directly to the eye’s drainage tissues known as the trabecular meshwork. The energy from the laser starts a chemical and biological change in the tissue that results in an increase in fluid drainage, thus resulting in a lower pressure in most eyes
SLT laser causes very little discomfort. Most people will notice some blurring of vision after the laser surgery. This usually clears within a few hours.
You may be given a drop to use for a week after the laser surgery. You should continue any drops that you have been taking until the doctor tells you to stop them, usually at a follow up visit. It may take several weeks to determine how much your eye pressure will be lowered by the laser. You may need additional treatments with the laser as well.
