What to expect after SLT surgery?
Oct 01, 2020 · Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT, is a form of laser surgery that is used to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma. It is used when eye drop medications are not lowering the eye pressure enough or are causing significant side effects. It can also be used as initial treatment in glaucoma. SLT has been in use for more than 25 years in the United States and …
What getting laser eye surgery is really like?
Nov 24, 2021 · SLT laser therapy is one treatment option for glaucoma. This laser promotes better eye drainage to reduce intraocular pressure. It is estimated that over 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma. Since this potentially debilitating eye condition can lead to blindness, it is imperative to understand the available treatment options.
Is laser eye surgery worth getting?
SLT laser stands for “Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty”. This is a laser procedure used to treat glaucoma by reducing the pressure in the eye. Also see New Micropulse laser for glaucoma What are the advantages of SLT? Aqueous flow can be blocked in some forms of glaucoma There are a few key reasons why SLT may be deemed beneficial for you:
Is laser eye surgery a good idea?
SLT is a laser procedure performed in the office to lower eye pressure. How does SLT work? Laser energy is applied to the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is located in the front of the eye and is the natural drain for fluid.
What should I expect after SLT laser?
The intraocular pressure is reduced in the eye after the procedure, and the full effect of SLT can take up to 3 months. Blurred vision is common up to 24 hours after SLT treatment and slight irritation is not uncommon for up to two days.
Can SLT improve vision?
SLT is a form of laser treatment for the eye used to help glaucoma. It is different from LASIK treatment in that it is not used to improve vision or to reduce the need for glasses. It can, however, help save eye sight which might otherwise be lost.
Is SLT better than eye drops?
Earlier this year, The Lancet published the results of the LiGHT trial, comparing selective laser trabeculoplasty and eye drops to treat patients with open-angle glaucoma, which found SLT provided more robust IOP lowering while being a more cost-efficient first-line treatment.Sep 18, 2019
What does SLT mean in ophthalmology?
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT, is a form of laser surgery that is used to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma. It is used when eye drop medications are not lowering the eye pressure enough or are causing significant side effects. It can also be used as initial treatment in glaucoma.Oct 1, 2020
Who is a good candidate for SLT?
Patients who are good candidates for SLT include patients with ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Patients I recommend avoiding include those with very uncontrolled IOP; patients with very low target IOPs; and those who have had prior filtering surgery.Sep 5, 2014
How long does SLT laser surgery take?
There is virtually no pain with the procedure. You will feel the lens slowly rotating on the surface of the eye as the doctor treats various parts of the trabecular meshwork. The procedure generally takes 5-10 minutes.
Does SLT affect vision?
Side effects after SLT laser treatments are rare. Below is a list of potential side effects: The most common side effects are mild and include soreness, redness and blurring of vision. There are usually very short-lived and can be treated easily and effectively with an eye drop.
Can SLT cause blindness?
SYMPTOMS. Open angle glaucoma generally has no symptoms until the disease is in advanced stages. With advanced glaucoma patients develop tunnel vision, where their peripheral field of vision decreases. Glaucoma can eventually cause blindness if left untreated.
How long do the effects of SLT last?
The effect of SLT can last many years (on average 3-4 years), but may begin to wear off after 12-18 months; hence ongoing monitoring is important.
Is SLT for glaucoma safe?
SLT has been shown to be safe in adults,9 and the complication rate is extremely low. SLT is also safe as initial therapy in OAG and in patients with ocular hypertension. SLT was also found to be comparable to11 and in some reports more efficacious12 than ALT.Jan 14, 2016
What are the side effects of SLT?
Side Effects of SLT Laser Treatment Unlike with glaucoma medications, there is no risk of allergy or systemic side-effects. Complications are rare but may include inflammation, temporary increase in eye pressure, conjunctivitis, or eye pain.
Does SLT laser hurt?
How is the SLT performed and does it hurt? Generally, the laser procedure is pain-free but patients may feel a pressure sensation during the procedure. You may also see a red light while the laser is on which is the laser energy being applied to the drainage tissue in the eye.
Who is a candidate for SLT?
You’re eligible for SLT if you have primary or secondary open-angle glaucoma and need to lower your IOP. Your ophthalmologist will determine your e...
How long does SLT treatment last?
SLT treatment is considered highly effective and will lower your internal eye pressure by approximately 30 percent. Initial primary therapy has a s...
What happens when it wears off?
Doctors will repeat SLT treatment if the initial surgery wears off after several years. However, subsequent treatments may or may not lower your ey...
What are other alternative laser treatments?
Procedures similar to SLT include micro-pulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT). ALT employs thermal laser and exhi...
Will I still need glaucoma medication?
The need for medication depends on the patient. For some patients, SLT treatment is sufficient to lower internal eye pressure. Other patients may r...
What Are The Advantages of SLT?
There are a few key reasons why SLT may be deemed beneficial for you: 1. Safe: SLT is not associated with systemic side effects or the compliance a...
Will I Feel Anything With The Laser Treatment?
Generally, the laser treatment does not cause pain. However, studies show some patients experience a sensation during treatment. You may see a gree...
How Often Do I Need to Receive SLT Treatments?
Successes with SLT vary. You will need to consult your doctor to inquire about follow-up treatments.
How Do I Know SLT Has Worked?
There is no sensation associated with an SLT procedure. You will require follow up visits with your doctor to monitor the success of the treatment.
Are There Other Options available?
There are other laser, surgery or medical options available. You should talk to your doctor to find out which approach is best for you.
Does SLT Work For All Types of Glaucoma?
There are different types of glaucoma. While SLT works on most, it does not work for all. Your doctor will know the appropriate course of action.
How Long Will I Have to Wait to Experience The Full Treatment Effect of The SLT Laser?
People can respond as soon as an hour after treatment, or as much as a few months later. Continued monitoring and follow up will determine the resp...
What is SLT laser therapy?
SLT laser therapy is one treatment option for glaucoma. This laser promotes better eye drainage to reduce intraocular pressure. ( Read More) It is estimated that over 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma.
What is SLT in glaucoma?
If eye drops and oral medications are not successfully lowering the eye pressure, a doctor might discuss selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) with the patient. This can also be used as the first treatment for glaucoma.
What is the purpose of SLT?
The purpose of this treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye of a person with glaucoma. During SLT, the doctor directs laser energy to the eye’s drainage tissue. This initiates a biological and chemical change in the tissue. This results in fluid draining better, so it is not accumulating in the eye.
How long does it take for SLT to work?
As excess fluid drains from the eye, it causes intraocular pressure to decrease. It can take approximately one to three months for the results to become apparent. If one treatment does not lower the intraocular pressure enough, SLT can be repeated. This is because the laser used for the procedure does not burn.
How effective is glaucoma treatment?
This can also be used as the first treatment for glaucoma. When it is used as an initial treatment, it reduces the intraocular pressure by approximately 30 percent. Other research shows that this treatment is effective about 80 percent of the time.
How long does it take for glaucoma to go away after SLT?
The doctor can prescribe topical medications to control the temporary increase in eye pressure. This side effect typically goes away within about 24 hours following SLT. Following this procedure, people who were taking glaucoma medications may still need to take them.
What is the most common type of glaucoma?
Glaucoma most often occurs in older adults, but people of all ages can be affected. There are several types of glaucoma, but open-angle glaucoma is the most common. This type is characterized by pressure in the eye increasing due to aqueous fluid draining too slowly. Other types of glaucoma include:
How effective is SLT?
On average, SLT can lower the eye pressure by about 20-30%. The laser is effective in lowering eye pressure in about 80% of patients. The laser effect wears off after several years, but the trabecular meshwork can be stimulated again with repeat laser. SLT does not affect the success rates or the eligibility of getting other medical ...
How long does it take for SLT to work?
SLT stimulates the trabecular meshwork to increase the amount of fluid drained from within the eye, which lowers eye pressure. It may take up to 2 months for the laser to take its full effect.
Why do you put a gel between your eye and the lens?
A clear gel is placed between the eye and the lens to protect the surface of your eye.
What is the name of the drop that is used to numb the eye?
Once you have been checked in, drops will be used to numb your eye and check the pressure. No injections or needles will be used. First, you will receive an eye drop called apraclonidine, which helps prevent a rise in the eye pressure after the procedure. Then a drop of anesthetic will be applied to numb the eye.
How long does a laser eye treatment last?
At the end of the laser treatment, the lens will be removed from the eye. The gel may remain on your eye for up to an hour, leading to blurred vision or a feeling of heaviness. As a safety measure, your eye pressure will be checked sometime after your procedure.
Can you take eye drops after laser?
Your doctor will tell you which drops to continue using and how often after the laser procedure. Sometimes patients are able to reduce the number of eye drops they are taking. Even if you are taking the same glaucoma medications after the procedure, the surgery is a success if your pressure is lower.
Can you get glaucoma after laser?
Inflammation is possible after the laser but it is not common. You may be prescribed anti-inflammatory drops on an individual basis. There is a small risk of temporary high eye pressures shortly following the laser treatment. This is usually controlled with glaucoma medications.
What is SLT in glaucoma?
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an in-office procedure that reduces intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. The laser is applied through a special contact lens to the drainage system of the eye where it stimulates a biochemical change that improves the outflow of fluid from the eye.
How effective is SLT?
SLT has been used since 1995 and has a proven track record for efficacy. On average, SLT can lower eye pressure by 20 to 30%. The laser is successful in about 80% of patients. In addition, studies have shown that SLT has a similar outcome compared to the most effective glaucoma eye drops.
Can you use eye drops before laser?
Usually, eye drops are offered before laser for initial treatment of glaucoma. This stems from the era prior to SLT when laser trabeculoplasty was a relatively riskier procedure. Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), the predecessor of SLT, delivered significantly higher laser energy to the eye resulting in structural damage ...
Do you need eye drops after SLT?
Although some patients still required eye drops following SLT, they required fewer drops to control their glaucoma . In addition, there were significant cost savings for those getting SLT. Many patients have difficulty with their eye drops.
Is SLT a primary treatment for glaucoma?
Due to its excellent benefit-to-risk profile, SLT is being offered earlier in the treatment strategy of glaucoma, including as primary therapy. Studies comparing SLT and eye drops as primary therapy have found similar treatment effects between the two groups.
Is SLT effective for glaucoma?
As a result, there is a strong case for SLT as primary therapy for many new glaucoma patients. Glaucoma treatment is individualized for each patient, and S LT is not effective for all types of glaucoma.
Is SLT safe?
By comparison, SLT has an improved safety profile where complications are typically infrequent, mild and short-lived. Although uncommon, side effects such as a “pressure spike” or inflammation can usually be successfully treated with a short course of medication.
