Glaucoma Laser Surgery Specialist

Los Angeles Glaucoma Group

Fellowship-Trained Glaucoma & Cataract Surgeons — Culver City & Torrance, Los Angeles

Many of the treatments for glaucoma are designed to tackle the drainage component of the problem. With glaucoma laser surgery, or laser cyclophotocoagulation, Daniel Krivoy, MD, and the team at Los Angeles Glaucoma Group target the source of the fluid production instead. They offer this treatment to patients in Los Angeles, California, to reduce the intraocular pressure caused by fluid buildup. If you'd like to know more about this treatment, call 310-838-0202.

Glaucoma Laser Surgery Q & A

What is laser cyclophotocoagulation?

While the name of this procedure is a mouthful, its goal is fairly simple: Target the area that produces aqueous humor, the liquid that provides nourishment for your eye. This area is called your ciliary body, which is tucked behind your iris. This ring of tissue not only produces your aqueous humor, but it also houses your ciliary muscle, which contracts to give your lens focusing power.

Your ciliary body produces aqueous humor, which shouldn't be confused with tears. This liquid contains valuable nutrients that support eye function. Once the nutrients are delivered, the fluid passes through your trabecular mesh and heads to your bloodstream.

In treating mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma, our experienced providers look for ways to prevent intraocular pressure, which is caused by poor drainage of your aqueous humor. With laser cyclophotocoagulation, he approaches the problem by addressing the source of the fluid.

How does laser cyclophotocoagulation work?

Using laser technology, our experienced providers target the cells in your ciliary body that produce fluid, altering them, so they produce less.

Before we perform the outpatient procedure, we gives you a local anesthetic for your comfort. We then uses a laser probe or endoscopic equipment to direct the laser energy toward the appropriate area. Because the laser works so fast, we are able to quickly target the cells he needs to and deliver the energy, often taking no more than 15 minutes.

What happens after the procedure?

Once your procedure is over, we put some medicine into your eye and cover it with a patch, so you should arrange for someone to drive you home. You only wear the patch overnight at which point your eye should be fine without it. We will also send you home with medicine for inflammation and pain, if necessary.

In the weeks following your treatment, you should start to notice an improvement as the pressure drops. We closely monitor you during this time to measure the procedure’s efficacy and determine whether another treatment is necessary.

If you’d like to learn more about glaucoma laser surgery, call us or use the online scheduler on this website to book an appointment.

We see patients for Glaucoma, Cataract Surgery, General Ophthalmology, and more. Call Los Angeles Glaucoma Group at our Torrance or Culver City, Ca Location today.

What is selective laser trabeculoplasty?

Selective laser trabeculoplasty, or SLT, was first invented in 2002 as a way to encourage better drainage in your trabecular mesh, which is designed to provide an outlet for the fluid in your eyes.

Your eyes produce a liquid called aqueous humor, which supplies critical nourishment for your ocular health. After producing the aqueous humor, your eye takes the nourishment it needs and the rest is drained through your trabecular mesh and then sent out into your bloodstream.

When your trabecular mesh is compromised, whether due to age or something congenital, it prevents your aqueous humor from being released, creating a buildup that puts pressure on your optic nerve.

Using SLT, our experienced providers target the tissue in your trabecular mesh with a laser that has minimal heat absorption, which means there’s less potential for tissue damage. The laser energy kick-starts a biological and chemical change in the tissue in your trabecular mesh that restores its ability to do its job — drain your eye.

The procedure is considered minimally invasive.

Am I a candidate for selective laser trabeculoplasty?

SLT provides an excellent solution for glaucoma sufferers who aren't keen on continuing ongoing eye drop therapy. Results of the SLT procedure are about as effective as eye drops in that it offers about a 30% reduction in intraocular pressure. SLT might be right for you if you're having an adverse reaction to the eye drops, or you'd like a solution that doesn't present the daily hassle that comes with drops.

Los Angeles Glaucoma Group helps you weigh your options to ensure that you settle on a treatment plan that works best for your situation and goals.

When will I see results?

It takes a little while for your trabecular tissue to respond and rebuild after an SLT procedure, typically one to three months.

How long do results last?

Results of an SLT procedure vary, with patients reporting anywhere from one to five years of relief. As the benefits begin to wear off, you can discuss a follow-up procedure with our experienced providers.

To find out whether SLT is right for you, call us or schedule an appointment online using the easy booking tool.

We see patients for Glaucoma, Cataract Surgery, General Ophthalmology, and more. Call us to see Los Angeles Glaucoma Group at our Torrance or Culver City, Ca Location today.

How does MicroPulse® Cyclo work?

The MicroPulse Cyclo is a cyclophotocoagulation tool. It targets the cells responsible for producing the fluid that builds up in your eye causing intraocular pressure.

Your eyes are extremely delicate, finely-tuned organs that rely on a certain balance to function properly. In order to keep your eye nourished, your cilial body houses cells that produce a liquid called aqueous humor, which delivers nutrients to your eye, and is subsequently expelled through your trabecular mesh.

With glaucoma, this mesh is compromised and blocks the outflow of fluid, creating uncomfortable and painful intraocular pressure. While many treatments help your eyes drain better, the MicroPulse Cyclo goes straight to the source of fluid production — your cilial body.

With the MicroPulse Cyclo, our experienced providers ablate your ciliary body epithelium (a layer of cells) with laser energy to reduce its ability to produce aqueous humor. One of the big advantages of this system is that in between laser pulses, your tissue cools, preventing thermal elevation.

Am I a candidate for MicroPulse Cyclo?

If you have mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma, and the medications aren’t working in addressing your intraocular pressure, we may discuss this treatment option with you. This laser technology is gaining acceptance as an early treatment, as well as a treatment for later stages of the disease. Obviously, the earlier you tackle glaucoma the better, since any damage it causes can’t be reversed.

After a thorough examination and evaluation of your glaucoma, we will discuss your treatment options, ensuring that we find one that aligns with your goals.

How many treatments do I need?

The answer to this is hard to predict. First, you need to give each treatment time to work, typically about a month. If you don’t see any improvement after a month, we may recommend more treatments. Because MicroPulse Cyclo is relatively safe and painless, you’re able to undergo several laser procedures, if needed.

The goal of the laser therapy is to relieve your intraocular pressure, and many patients report a 30% decrease after just one treatment. Some, however, require two or more MicroPulse Cyclo treatments to achieve the 30% goal.

If you’d like to explore noninvasive laser solutions for your glaucoma, call us or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.

We see patients for Glaucoma, Cataract Surgery, General Ophthalmology, and more. Call Los Angeles Glaucoma Group at our Torrance or Culver City, Ca Location today.