Procedures

What is eye pressure?

Your eyes naturally produce fluid that gives them their pressure and shape. Healthy eye pressure is maintained as fluid flows in and out of your eye. Everyone has an eye pressure range that is healthy and normal for them. If fluid builds up inside the eye, eye pressure can increase. Even though you cannot feel elevated eye pressure it can cause damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to vision loss.

Fluid circulating in the eye.

What is Glaucoma?

High eye pressure can increase your risk for vision loss by causing the nerve in the back of the eye (optic nerve) to become damaged. This is called Glaucoma Optic nerve damage and usually occurs slowly with no noticeable vision loss until many years later. At that time when there has been extensive nerve damage all of a sudden one will notice vision loss that can rapidly deteriorate. Thus the goal of treatment is early detection (prior to symptoms) and lowering the eye pressure to prevent any further optic nerve damage. Not taking your eye drop medication will cause your eye pressure to increase. However, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! More than 90% of glaucoma patients do not take their prescription eye drop medication regularly. Forgetting to take your medication can cause large changes in eye pressure that can increase your risk for vision loss.

Excess fluid pressure pushes against the optic nerve.

What are the treatment options?

There are many different treatments for glaucoma including medication, surgery and laser therapy. Eye drop medication is the most commonly used treatment for high eye pressure and glaucoma.

Patients often do not take their eye drop medication as prescribed by their doctors due to forgetfulness, side effects, or the expense.
Many patients are in search of other treatment options.
Glaucoma Laser Therapy is an excellent treatment option for patients who want to reduce or eliminate their need to take eye drop medication.
Surgery is often used in patients with advanced disease who may already have experienced vision loss.

What is Glaucoma Laser Therapy (GLT)?

GLT is an FDA cleared procedure to lower eye pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of glaucoma. The laser energy reduces and controls eye pressure by causing a natural response that improves the outflow of fluid from your eye.

Laser surgery can reduce the need for daily medication.

What should I expect during GLT?

Before the laser treatment a certified ophthalmic technician will place anesthetic eye drops in your eyes. During the laser therapy, you will be seated with your chin in the chin rest of the instrument eye doctors usually use to examine your eyes. An aiming lens will be placed on your eye and Dr. Lipstock will activate the laser with a foot switch and you will hear a series of clicks. The process typically takes a few minutes and the majority of patients describe it as painless.

What should I expect after Laser Therapy?

The most common side effect of GLT is mild eye irritation. Dr. Lipstock will prescribe eye drops to treat the mild irritation for a short-time after the procedure. For many patients the mild irritation goes away on it’s own in a day or two.

Can I stop taking my glaucoma medication after Laser Therapy?

Dr. Lipstock will evaluate you three weeks later to allow time for the treatment to lower the eye pressure. If you were already taking glaucoma medication he may have you continue taking your medication or he may decrease or discontinue it.

Can I have Laser Therapy more than once?

Unlike other therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, Laser Therapy is repeatable. To avoid an immediate but temporary increase in eye pressure after Laser Therapy Dr. Lipstock will only treat half of the eye during one treatment session. If the eye pressure is not low enough he may choose to treat the other half several weeks or months later. If your eye pressure should increase over the years Laser Therapy can be repeated to reduce your eye pressure again.

Are you looking for glaucoma treatment with long-term control?

Glaucoma Laser Therapy (GLT) provides the same eye pressure control as the #1 prescribed glaucoma eye drop medication! It is clinically proven to provide long-term control of eye pressure and may reduce or eliminate your need to take eye drop medication. Laser Therapy does not cause long-term redness or irritation of the eye that is often associated with commonly prescribed eye drop medication.

Are you spending too much on glaucoma medication?

GLT is a cost effective glaucoma treatment. If you are taking 1 to 3 types of eye drop medication every day, you may spend $750 to $1100 a year on your glaucoma medication. One year after GLT, more than 87% of patients reduced their eye drop medication use by at least one eye drop medication per day. GLT is typically covered by medical insurance including Medicare when medically necessary. GLT may reduce or eliminate your need to take eye drop medication for glaucoma. And this means that you could reduce the amount of money you spend on your eye drop medication.

Why should I ask about Glaucoma Laser Therapy (GLT)?

GLT has been FDA cleared for more than 20 years to effectively and very safely lower eye pressure. Seven years ago the FDA cleared an even safer and more effective form of GLT.
GLT is clinically proven to provide long-term control of eye pressure.
GLT reduces and controls eye pressure by causing a natural response that improves the outflow of fluid from the eye.
GLT typically takes a few minutes and the majority of patients describe it as painless.
GLT does not cause ocular or systemic side effects associated with eye drop medication.
GLT may reduce or eliminate your need to take eye drop medication.
GLT is typically covered by medical insurance including Medicare.

LIPSTOCK Lasik & Cataract Center
WESTERRE COMMONS
3701 Westerre Parkway, Suite A
Richmond, Virginia 23233
PH: 804-288-1543 | 800-NEWVISION | FAX: 804-285-2375
EMAIL: info@lipstocklaser.com