Laser trabeculoplasty is a type of eye surgery that treats open-angle glaucoma. With glaucoma, aqueous humor does not drain properly from the front of the eye. Pressure builds in the eye, which damages the optic nerve. Laser trabeculoplasty helps fluid drain properly again, lowering your eye pressure.
Laser trabeculoplasty is done in an outpatient surgery center or an ophthalmologist’s office. Laser energy is used to treat your drainage angle. This makes the drainage angle work better over time, helping to lower eye pressure.
The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes. It can take from about 6-8 weeks for the procedure to fully lower the eye pressure.
Risk Factors
- The surgery does not lower the eye pressure enough.
- Eye pressure increases, possibly requiring medicine or surgery to lower it.
- Eye becomes red, swollen, or painful.
- Vision gets blurry.
- There is damage to other parts of your eye from the laser.
- May need to have laser trabeculoplasty again.
It is important to have your eyes or vision checked regularly if you have glaucoma.