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Reston   (703) 485-2148 Leesburg   (703) 777-1244
Reston   (703) 485-2148 Leesburg   (703) 777-1244



A New Laser Treatment for Glaucoma Patients

Glaucoma may be one of the most common eye diseases in America – unfortunately, it can have devastating consequences for its sufferers. Glaucoma is a condition where the pressure in the eye has risen high enough to cause damage to the optic nerve. Without treatment, this damage can become permanent, resulting in irreversible visual impairment and even total vision loss.

The first line of defense against glaucoma is usually eyedrops; however, many patients have a hard time remembering to use the drops two to four times per day (the recommended dosage). What’s more, drops can be prohibitively expensive, which may convince patients to stop using this treatment before the recommended timeframe.

When this occurs, patients can be more at risk for developing glaucoma.

Whether you forget to take your drops on a regular basis or you experience irritation and redness from the treatment, it can be hard to maintain a regular routine with eyedrops. That’s why Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths of NewView Laser Eye Center in Reston, Virginia is excited to announce the arrival of a new laser treatment for glaucoma patients.

The new Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) treatment is a safe and effective treatment that provides a superior alternative to eye drops. The SLT laser is a cold laser, which means that patients won’t experience burning, scarring, or even pain during the procedure. It’s as effective as eye drops, yet takes far less very little time to perform – most in-office procedures take ten minutes to perform.

The SLT laser works by selectively breaking up the pigmented cells that are scattered throughout the drainage system in the eye. That makes it much easier for the fluid to be drained from the eye, which helps relieve the biggest symptoms of glaucoma. This allows the aqueous fluid to flow through the eye, which in turn lowers your eye pressure. This procedure can be repeated every three to five years, in case pressure within the eye begins to go up again.

This laser treatment SLT is the perfect treatment option for patients who don’t want the muss and fuss of eye drops. To learn more about the SLT laser – as well as your other glaucoma treatment options – schedule a consultation with Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths at NewView Laser Eye Center in Reston, Virginia. NewView Laser Eye Center serves the greater Washington, DC metro area.