One of the leading causes of blindness, glaucoma refers to a group of conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve, the part of the eye responsible for your sight. For many of these conditions, loss of vision is the only noticeable symptom. Though glaucoma is incurable, we offer Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) to our patients in Central New York, a treatment that can be safely repeated, to alleviate pressure in the eye and prevent further loss of vision. Contact Syracuse Ophthalmologic Consultants to learn more about glaucoma and its treatment.
Glaucoma is a set of conditions, each of which is characterized by a change in eye pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve, leading to blindness. The following are the most common types of glaucoma:
The primary symptom of glaucoma is vision loss. Each type of glaucoma is identified by its different symptoms. While the only symptom associated with open-angle glaucoma is loss of vision, the others are identified by pain, red eye, headaches, and decreased or cloudy vision.
A thorough eye examination to check the inside of the eye for damage helps ophthalmologists diagnose glaucoma. If you notice changes in your vision, accompanied by pain or any of the other symptoms above, seek medical attention immediately. Early detection leads to more effective treatment.
Though incurable, there is treatment available for glaucoma including medication and surgery. Treatment depends on the type of glaucoma you have as well as the severity of the condition. Eye drops are typically prescribed regardless of your diagnosis. At Syracuse Ophthalmologic Consultants, we focus on SLT laser techniques to treat your glaucoma.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a safe and innovative technology that uses lasers to target only certain cells of the trabecular meshwork of your eye, leaving the tissue surrounding these cells untouched. The trabecular meshwork consists of the tissue in the eye responsible for draining the fluid of the eye. SLT burns holes into this meshwork, targeting only certain cells. As a result, fluid in your eye is able to drain freely as your body heals from the procedure. Since only certain cells are affected, the treatment can be safely repeated. While SLT may not liberate you from eye drops and medication completely, those who have been treated with it have reported a reduction in the amount of medication they need to take.
We offer SLT treatment for our glaucoma patients in the Syracuse area. If you would like to learn more about glaucoma or SLT, contact our Liverpool and Watertown office today.
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