SLT or Trabeculoplasty, and iridotomy are laser procedures that aim to increase the outflow of fluid from the eye or eliminate fluid blockages.
Laser iridotomy is used to treat narrow-angle glaucoma. In laser iridotomy, a very focused beam of light creates a hole on the outer edge, or rim, of the iris, the colored part of the eye. This opening allows fluid to flow between the anterior chamber, the front part of the eye, and the area behind the iris, the posterior chamber. This opening may decrease pressure in the eye and usually prevents sudden buildup of pressure within the eye, which occurs during an episode of acute closed-angle glaucoma.
During SLT, a laser is directed into the trabecular meshwork, which is the primary drainage region of the eye. The trabecular meshwork is located in the angle of the eye, where the cornea meets the iris. The procedure increases drainage of aqueous fluid out of the eye, thereby lowering the intraocular pressure. SLT can be conducted in the office or as an outpatient procedure.
Cyclophotocoagulation – One of the ways to treat glaucoma is to decrease the amount of fluid production in the eye from the cells that make the fluid. Ciliary body treatments use either a cryoprobe (a freezing probe) or a laser to treat cells that make the fluid in the eye. These procedures cause the cells to decrease their usual production. The G-Probe is a non-invasive fiber-optic laser handpiece specially designed for the selective ablation of ciliary processes. G-Probe treatment is repeatable and is performed in the operating room.