Question 1

When is the treatment helpful?

Accepted Answer

Selective laser trabeculoplasty is helpful for lowering eye pressure and reducing the need for further additional medication. It can also be used as an initial glaucoma treatment without the side effects or difficulties of taking eye drops. Aqueous humour is a completely different fluid to your tears, which will not be affected by this laser treatment.

Question 2

Why should I have this treatment?

Accepted Answer

It is important to remember that this procedure is performed to save the sight you still have. It will not restore any sight you may have already lost or improve your sight. Some people respond better to the treatment than others and it is successful in about three out of four patients. If the treatment is successful, you may be able to reduce the number of eye drops you currently use to manage your glaucoma. The treatment is not permanent and may need to be repeated in the future to control the eye pressure adequately. If this happens, the results may not be as good as you experienced after the first treatment. You might need to continue with eye drop treatment as well, and in some cases we may recommend other treatments including surgery if we are not happy with the pressure.

Question 3

Are there any risks associated with selective laser trabeculoplasty?

Accepted Answer

Complications after this treatment are uncommon. Occasionally your eye pressure will rise immediately after laser treatment; if this happens, you may need extra treatment before you can go home, usually in the form of eye drops or tablets. We will let you know which treatment you need and will advise you of how long you need to take it for. If we do treat you with eye drops, we will put them in your eye before you leave hospital. You will be asked to remain in the department until your eye pressure has reduced to a satisfactory level. This should take a few hours at most. Other complications include haemorrhage in the eye, which can blur your vision for a few days, or your eye may feel slightly bruised afterwards because of inflammation — this is usually small and can be treated with more frequent steroid drops. You may wish to take a mild painkiller such as Paracetamol to relieve any discomfort. Certain symptoms require urgent attention: excessive pain, loss of vision, flashing lights, or the eye becoming increasingly red. If you experience any of these, telephone us for advice immediately or visit your nearest accident and emergency department.

Question 4

Are there any alternatives?

Accepted Answer

The alternative to this laser treatment is to start or continue with eye drops to lower the pressure in your eye, or surgery. Ask your doctor if you would like more information.

Question 5

How can I prepare for selective laser trabeculoplasty?

Accepted Answer

As this is an outpatient treatment, there are no special preparations required. You can eat and drink as normal, and you must take your usual eye medication on the morning of the laser treatment. The treatment itself should take about 15 minutes, but you are likely to remain in clinic for 1-2 hours.

Question 6

What happens on the day of treatment?

Accepted Answer

Upon arrival, we will explain the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form. Remember to bring a list of your current medications with you to the appointment. We will then check your vision and put some drops into your eye to make your pupil smaller and to protect the eye from any spikes in pressure. The drops take up to one hour to work. A few minutes before the treatment, you will have anaesthetic eye drops put into your eye to gently numb the surface of the eye.

Question 7

After the procedure

Accepted Answer

Your vision may be slightly blurred for a few hours following your laser treatment. This will settle. For this reason it is strongly advised that you do not drive home yourself. However, apart from driving, you can resume all other normal activities immediately. After the laser treatment, you will have further drops put in your eyes to help reduce any inflammation caused by the laser. The pressure in your eye will be checked about an hour after the treatment. You may then return home with a prescription for drops and an appointment to come back to the clinic for a review.

Question 8

An important reminder

Accepted Answer

You should continue to use all your anti-glaucoma medication unless specifically instructed otherwise.

Are there any alternatives?

More questions in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)

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