While the root causes of glaucoma are still uncertain, treatments for this potentially serious disease have improved over the past few years, taking advantage of new technology. Glaucoma involves an increase in the pressure inside the eye, and if left untreated it can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve, even leading to blindness.

Fortunately, glaucoma can be easily detected, and most eye doctors recommend regular testing to determine if the pressure inside your eyes falls within normal ranges. If the inter ocular pressure is too high, drug treatments or surgical procedures can reduce the pressure and keep it under control, preventing damage to your optic nerve.

While ophthalmologists usually try drug treatments, often in the form of eyedrops, as a first measure against glaucoma, sometimes the condition doesn’t respond well to this approach, and surgery is necessary. Argon laser trabeculoplasty is a common procedure used to reduce the pressure in the eye.

In argon laser trabeculoplasty, an argon laser is directed at the trabecular meshwork, which is a collection of mesh-like ducts around the iris. Under normal conditions, the trabecular meshwork drains aqueous humor out of the eye, preventing too much fluid from remaining inside the eyeball and producing high inter ocular pressure, leading to glaucoma. However, sometimes this meshwork doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.

The argon laser used in this treatment reacts with the trabecular meshwork, causing it to open up in such a way that the fluid inside the eyeball can drain more efficiently. This reduces inter ocular pressure and prevents damage to the optic nerve. The technique is simple, highly effective, and can keep you from losing your eyesight.

Denver, Colorado eye surgeon Dr. Stuart Lewis performs argon laser trabeculoplasty to treat glaucoma. For more information on this innovative procedure, please contact Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons, P.C. We’ll be happy to answer your questions or schedule an appointment.