Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. By placing a high amount of pressure on your eyes, glaucoma can cause obscured vision and even blindness if left untreated. Luckily, Dr. Jeffrey Maehara has a variety of different treatment options for glaucoma. As one of the options that he likes to use most, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty or SLT, targets specific eye cells to increase the fluid in your eye and reduce the pressure. Read on to learn more about SLT and whether or not it’s a viable option for you.

What Is SLT?

As previously mentioned, SLT targets eye cells to increase the fluid in your eye while simultaneously releasing pressure. Specifically, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty’s unique laser system targets cells containing melanin, a natural pigment found in the eye.

What Is Recovery Like?

With any procedure, one of the scariest parts for a patient to think about is the recovery. Because SLT is a non-invasive, pain-free surgical procedure, the recovery should be fast and easy. During your recovery and depending on how your surgery has gone, you may be treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops.

What Are Results Like?

One of the best parts about SLT is that your eye pressure can drop in just a day or two following the procedure— leaving you with real results in virtually no time at all. Additionally, not only are your results fast, but they should also last. Although more pressure can build up in your eyes, it’s not as likely to occur when it’s taken care of early on.

Having glaucoma isn’t something you want to brag about. By causing pressure in your eyes, if left untreated, glaucoma can cause permanent eye damage. And, the worst part about glaucoma is that there isn’t a cure for it yet. Luckily, with treatments like SLT, you can prevent the symptoms from getting worse. If you would like to learn more about SLT or other treatments, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!