Do you struggle with blurry vision, eye pain, or pressure that just won’t go away? At New York Retina Center, Dr. Brandon Johnson offers advanced laser glaucoma treatments to help protect your vision and relieve discomfort. You’ll receive compassionate, expert care focused on preserving your eyesight and improving daily comfort.
Prevent Optic Nerve Damage and Vision Loss
Laser glaucoma treatments are minimally invasive procedures that help lower the pressure inside your eye (intraocular pressure) to prevent damage to the optic nerve. Using focused laser energy, Dr. Johnson can improve fluid drainage or reduce fluid production in your eye. These outpatient treatments are safe, quick, and effective for many types of glaucoma. Dr. Johnson tailors each procedure according to your specific needs to protect your vision, relieve discomfort, and reduce your dependence on daily eye drops.
Laser Glaucoma Treatments Can Treat These Symptoms:
- Blurred or hazy vision caused by increased eye pressure
- Eye pain, aching, or a feeling of heaviness around the eyes
- Halos or rainbow-colored rings around lights
- Headaches related to elevated intraocular pressure
- Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Sudden vision changes or eye redness associated with pressure spikes
When Are Laser Glaucoma Treatments Indicated?
Laser glaucoma treatments are indicated when the pressure inside your eye (intraocular pressure) becomes too high, damaging the optic nerve, the structure responsible for sending visual signals to your brain. This pressure buildup often occurs when the fluid inside your eye, called aqueous humor, cannot drain properly through its normal pathways. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss, often starting with peripheral vision and progressing silently over time. Laser treatments are recommended for patients with open-angle or angle-closure glaucoma who have not achieved adequate pressure control with medication alone. By improving fluid outflow or reducing production, laser treatments help preserve your remaining vision, protect the optic nerve, and maintain long-term eye health.
Types of Laser Glaucoma Treatments Performed
Laser Peripheral Iridotomy
Laser peripheral iridotomy is used primarily for angle-closure glaucoma, where the drainage angle between the iris and cornea becomes blocked. Dr. Johnson uses a focused laser beam to create a tiny opening in the outer edge of the iris. This allows fluid (aqueous humor) to flow freely between the front and back chambers of the eye, equalizing pressure and preventing sudden spikes that can damage the optic nerve. The procedure is quick and painless.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a common treatment for open-angle glaucoma, the most prevalent form of the disease. It uses short pulses of low-energy laser light to gently stimulate the eye’s natural drainage tissue, known as the trabecular meshwork. This activation improves fluid outflow and gradually lowers intraocular pressure without damaging surrounding tissue. SLT often reduces or eliminates the need for pressure-lowering eye drops.
Micropulse Laser
Micropulse laser therapy uses a modern “pulsed” laser system that delivers energy in tiny bursts rather than continuous waves. This approach protects delicate eye structures from heat damage while effectively reducing fluid production from the ciliary body, the part of the eye that makes aqueous humor. The treatment lowers intraocular pressure with minimal inflammation and can be customized for patients who haven’t responded to other therapies.
Benefits of Laser Glaucoma Treatments:
- Minimally invasive procedures with no incisions or stitches
- Performed quickly in the office with minimal discomfort
- Effective in lowering intraocular pressure and protecting vision
- Reduced dependence on daily glaucoma eye drops
- Suitable for patients who don’t respond well to medications
- Can be safely repeated if additional pressure control is needed
- Short recovery time with little to no downtime
- Helps prevent future optic nerve damage and vision loss
What Happens During Laser Glaucoma Treatments?
During laser glaucoma treatments, you’ll sit comfortably at a slit-lamp microscope similar to an eye exam. After your eye is numbed with anesthetic drops, Dr. Johnson will position a special contact lens on your eye to focus the laser. The laser delivers pulses of light to either improve fluid drainage or reduce fluid production, depending on the type of glaucoma you have. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes and is virtually painless.
What is the Recovery Process After Laser Glaucoma Treatments?
After laser glaucoma treatments, you may notice mild eye redness, irritation, or blurry vision for a few hours. Some patients experience light sensitivity or a slight headache, which resolves within a day. Most people can resume normal activities the same or the next day. Dr. Johnson will check your eye pressure shortly after the procedure and may prescribe anti-inflammatory drops to aid healing. Your vision will continue to stabilize over the following days.
Schedule Your Consultation
New York Retina Center is led by Dr. Brandon Johnson, a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained retina specialist with advanced expertise in laser eye procedures. With over 15 years of experience, he offers compassionate, personalized care to protect your sight and preserve your quality of life. If you’ve been struggling with glaucoma symptoms or medication side effects, schedule your consultation for laser glaucoma treatments in Manhattan today.
