Glaucoma is a serious disorder of the eye that can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve, leading to severely compromised sight or even blindness. Fortunately, ophthalmologists have developed procedures for early detection that measure the pressure of the fluid inside the eye. When this pressure builds too high, due to lack of drainage of the aqueous humor or excessive production of this substance, which fills the inside of the eyeball, treatment can be pursued immediately, before long-term effects set in.

The traditional treatment has been medication in the form of eyedrops. However, as technology advances and we learn more and more about how to use lasers and other advanced techniques, new and improved treatments for glaucoma have become more common. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is one of these procedures, as is the ExPRESS Mini-Shunt.

In traditional laser treatment for glaucoma, the laser reacts with the trabecular meshwork of the eye. The trabecular meshwork is a matrix of drainage canals around the iris. While traditional laser treatment has proved successful, and is minimally invasive, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is also effective and even less invasive.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty allows the laser to be used at a very low level, treating select cells in the trabecular meshwork and leaving others untouched. Because the procedure is more highly focused than traditional laser surgery, it can be repeated more than once, offering additional options for those whose condition proves resistant to drug treatments or other surgical approaches.

Another advantage of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is that it can be performed as an in-office procedure, making it much more convenient for the patient. Dr. Lewis practices this state-of-the-art treatment in his Denver, Colorado offices, providing yet another option for patients diagnosed with glaucoma.

For more information on Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Denver, Colorado, please contact Dr. Stuart Lewis at Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons to see if this innovative new procedure might be the right approach for you.