Glaucoma is a debilitating lifelong disease that could strongly impact your life in more ways than one. As it can cause total blindness if left untreated, you could suffer from many discomforts. For one, you could not normally do what you usually enjoy, like reading or driving. For another, as your peripheral vision starts becoming affected, you become more prone to tripping and falling, raising your risks for accidents and injuries.
But that should not be the case. Instead, you can get an early diagnosis for glaucoma and start a treatment plan to help you manage it and keep it from progressing rapidly.
Laser treatments are preferred:
In this world of high technology, laser treatments are seen as the most promising way to eliminate the discomforts caused by glaucoma. So while the disease may be with you forever, you will not have to suffer from it completely because there are remedies that will make it more manageable to live with.
Different laser treatments are available to glaucoma patients, depending on the type they are suffering from and their preference. The YAG SLT laser system is one of the most promising options, with its precision and refined laser delivery. This advanced technology is highly effective at treating open-angle glaucoma, identified with raised intraocular pressure.
Do laser treatments cause side effects?
Just like any type of medical treatment, using a laser against glaucoma may come with several side effects, like soreness, swelling, and some discomfort. But the amount of pain you will endure after a laser treatment is nothing compared to the improved vision health you will experience because of it.
Glaucoma patients prefer laser because it is less invasive and highly effective. Recovery also usually does not take longer than a day or two at the most. In addition, the discomfort commonly goes away as the eyes are fully rested after the treatment.
However, it is not an all-cure for everyone. While some patients may greatly improve after laser treatment, other patient’s symptoms don’t. Therefore, it is important that you continuously consult with an ophthalmologist to know for sure which is the right treatment for you.
It normally takes four to six weeks after laser treatment to determine if it worked. While waiting, the patient will need to take prescription medicines and regularly visit the doctor to monitor eye pressure.
Other options:
Besides laser treatment, other options are to use prescription eye drops and surgery.
Some patients combine different treatments to help them manage the condition better. It depends on your condition which option is most viable. The key is to work closely with an expert eye doctor to ensure you are steered on the right path to getting better.
While there is no total cure for glaucoma, there are many ways to help you go through life normally. An effective treatment plan that works for your case is most valuable, no matter the kind or cost, as long as its side effects are not greater than the cure.
