Glaucoma can lead to irreversible blindness if not properly managed. At Eye MDs of Inland, Dr. Marc Shomer and Dr. Robert Gunzenhauser perform glaucoma laser surgery in Upland using advanced YAG and SLT laser technology to safely lower eye pressure and protect your vision. With our compassionate, personalized care, you can maintain clearer, healthier sight for years ahead.
Improve Fluid Flow for Clearer, Lasting Vision
Glaucoma is a condition in which elevated intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve, gradually reducing your field of vision and potentially leading to blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma laser surgery involves using precise YAG or SLT laser energy to improve fluid drainage from your eye, lowering pressure safely and effectively. Most patients experience clearer, more stable vision and reduced reliance on eye drops, helping to preserve long-term eye health and prevent further vision loss.
What Does Glaucoma Laser Surgery Treat?
Inside your eye, a clear fluid called aqueous humor flows through a delicate drainage system that maintains healthy pressure. When this system becomes blocked or inefficient, pressure builds and begins to damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual signals to your brain. Glaucoma laser surgery helps restore this balance and protect your vision.
It can relieve symptoms and complications such as:
- Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Halos around lights, especially at night
- Eye pain or pressure sensations
- Increased dependence on glaucoma eye drops
Benefits of Glaucoma Laser Surgery
Minimally Invasive Approach
YAG and SLT laser procedures are performed without incisions, reducing the risk of infection or complications. This allows for quicker recovery, minimal discomfort, and excellent safety, making it ideal for patients seeking a gentler alternative to traditional surgery.
Effective Eye Pressure Control
The laser precisely targets the drainage tissue in your eye to improve fluid outflow, effectively lowering intraocular pressure. This helps prevent optic nerve damage and slows glaucoma progression, preserving your vision and reducing the need for additional medications.
Quick, in-office Treatment
The entire laser procedure typically takes just a few minutes and is performed conveniently in-office. There is no need for anesthesia or hospital stays, allowing you to resume your normal daily activities almost immediately with minimal downtime.
Long-lasting Results
Many patients experience stable eye pressure for months or even years after treatment. When combined with regular monitoring by Dr. Shomer or Dr. Gunzenhauser, the effects can be sustained to help protect your vision in the long term and prevent additional surgery.
How is Glaucoma Laser Surgery Done?
During your Upland glaucoma laser surgery, you’ll be seated at a slit-lamp microscope, similar to the one used for eye exams. After your eye is numbed with drops, Dr. Gunzenhauser will position a special contact lens on the eye to help focus the laser precisely. Using either a YAG or SLT laser, he will deliver a series of brief, low-energy light pulses to the trabecular meshwork: the microscopic drainage tissue inside the front of your eye. This improves the outflow of aqueous fluid, lowering intraocular pressure safely and effectively without any incision.
At Eye MDs of Inland, your procedure is performed in a state-of-the-art, single-site, physician-owned clinic. Every step of the process is explained thoroughly in advance, ensuring you understand what’s happening and why. You’ll receive individualized, compassionate care to protect your vision and help stabilize eye pressure with minimal discomfort and downtime.
What is Recovery Like After Glaucoma Laser Surgery?
Your vision may be slightly blurry for a few hours, and you can expect mild irritation or redness. However, these symptoms fade within a day or two. You may need to use anti-inflammatory or pressure-lowering eye drops for a short period as prescribed. Dr. Shomer or Dr. Gunzenhauser will closely monitor your eye pressure and healing progress during follow-up visits.
How Soon Will I Notice Results?
You may begin to see improvement in eye pressure within a few days, though in some cases, the full results develop over several weeks. The laser works by improving fluid outflow, so gradual pressure reduction is normal. For many patients, the results are long-lasting, but periodic monitoring is essential to ensure continued control of intraocular pressure.
Will I Still Need Glaucoma Eye Drops Afterward?
In many cases, laser treatment can reduce or even eliminate the need for daily eye drops. However, every case of glaucoma is unique, and some patients may still require medication to maintain optimal pressure control. Dr. Shomer and Dr. Gunzenhauser will tailor your ongoing treatment plan based on your response to the procedure and your overall eye health.
Protect Your Vision and Eyesight Today
Eye MDs of Inland is a trusted, physician-owned ophthalmology practice led by Dr. Marc Shomer and Dr. Robert Gunzenhauser, our fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist. Both are board-certified and trained at UCLA’s prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute. With our advanced laser technology and compassionate care, we provide precise, effective glaucoma management to help preserve your vision. Schedule your consultation for glaucoma laser surgery in Upland, CA, today and take the first step toward protecting your sight.
