Trabeculoplasty is an argon laser treatment that consists of applying the laser to the trabeculum, the filtering zone of the eye, in order to increase the outflow of aqueous humor and reduce intraocular pressure.
When is it performed?
This procedure is performed when hypotensive eye drops fail to effectively reduce intraocular pressure and the patient is not a candidate for surgery. The reasons may be that the glaucoma is not sufficiently advanced or that it is an intervention that could put the patient’s health at risk. It is necessary for the angle to be open and sufficiently pigmented for the procedure to be performed.
What prior examinations should be performed?
First of all, a complete ophthalmologic examination is essential to know what type of glaucoma we are talking about and the stage it is in. In this way, the most appropriate technique can be chosen in each particular case. In this sense, the most common diagnostic tests that are performed prior to an intervention are:
- Campimetry: consists of the study of the visual field.
- Tonometry: consists of taking the eye pressure.
- Gonisoscopy: consists of direct visualization of the iridocorneal angle.
- Pachymetry: consists of measuring the thickness of the cornea.
- Optic nerve examination directly or with automated tests, such as OCT or HRT.
Risks
There are patients in whom this treatment may not be sufficient to control glaucoma and other options should be considered. In addition, although it is a safe and minimally invasive technique, in certain cases it can cause ocular inflammation after application.