Glaucoma treatment
Most glaucoma treatments are aimed at reducing intraocular pressure and thus preventing the deterioration of the optic nerve from progressing.
The treatment indicated by the specialist will depend on the type of glaucoma that the patient presents, the time at which the disease has been diagnosed, as well as its foreseeable evolution.
Intervention is usually not the first treatment option, unless the diagnosis reveals considerable damage to the optic nerve.
Traditionally, in general, the ophthalmologist resorted to drugs in the form of eye drops, which must be administered continuously given the chronic nature of the disease. Among all glaucoma treatments, this has been the most frequent and appropriate for moderate and controlled glaucoma.
Currently, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is used as a primary treatment option for the early stages of open-angle glaucoma and allows intraocular pressure to be controlled without the use of eye drops, avoiding the inconveniences and side effects that these produce and preserving the ocular surface.
There are other alternatives aimed at improving the drainage of aqueous humour or reducing its production levels. Good compliance with the treatment determined by the ophthalmologist is essential to effectively control glaucoma.
We currently offer two treatments
1. Laser treatment
Among glaucoma treatments, laser treatment is performed on an outpatient basis. One of the most common techniques is Argon laser trabeculoplasty (conventional trabeculoplasty). The application of the laser directly to the filtration area of the eye (trabeculum) allows the drainage duct of the aqueous humour to be enlarged, increasing the outflow and thus decreasing the intraocular pressure. This treatment is indicated for open-angle glaucoma.
Currently, at Oftalmedic Salvà we also offer our patients the SeLecTor Deux Laser, an ophthalmic laser system specifically designed to perform Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), which is a proven solution for the management of open-angle glaucoma.
It is an outpatient, safe and effective treatment, which consists of the application of laser to the tissue responsible for the drainage system of the aqueous humour (trabecular meshwork). The laser generates a biological effect on it, increasing the flow of aqueous humour and drastically reducing high intraocular pressure.
The SeLecTor Deux Laser precisely targets certain cells (pigment cells of the trabecular meshwork), preventing damage to surrounding structures. In addition, instead of changing the cell structure, it stimulates it. As it does not cause scarring of the impacted tissue, this process can be repeated in previously treated areas.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is a primary treatment option for the early stages of open-angle glaucoma, and allows IOP control without the use of eye drops.
2. Surgical treatment
Trabeculectomy is the classic surgery for glaucoma drainage. It consists of creating a new drainage route to promote the passage of aqueous humour in sufficient quantity, thus reducing intraocular pressure.
It is generally the right choice for acute glaucoma, in which high intraocular tension values begin to cause deterioration in the optic nerve. Likewise, this technique is applicable to those cases in which treatment with hypotensive drugs (eye drops) does not cause the expected effects and, therefore, it is not possible to stop the progression of the disease.
