“What are the side effects of laser surgery for glaucoma?”

There are several types of glaucoma lasers. SLT is the newer laser that is very safe and may lead to temporary inflammation and occasional transitory pressure elevation. Typically it is very safe and effective. The older type, ALT, is not used by most doctors these days as it causes more inflammation and is more frequent. YAG peripheral iridotomy is used for a narrow-angle type of glaucoma and is very effective. It also may cause inflammation but if a surgeon is experienced, that is very unlikely.

Generally laser is very well tolerated with minimal side effects. These side effects are dependent upon the type of laser that is performed.

Alan J Franklin MD, PhD
Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery
Diagnostic And Medical Clinic
1720 Springhill Ave. Suite 300
Mobile, AL 36604
Cell: 251-776-4455

Hello, and thank you for your question. Side effects from glaucoma laser, usually selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) or argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) are minimal. Complications are also rare, but can consist of:
1. A rise in pressure of the eye. This is usually mild and transient, but can be more marked and sometimes can be more permanent and require other treatment
2. It is effective in lowering the pressure sufficiently about 85% of the time, but that means that 15% of the time, it doesn't work as well as we hoped, and additional treatment is still needed.
3. Some mild inflammation in the eye. I have never seen this personally, but it's a reported side effect
Otherwise, laser glaucoma surgery is a very common and safe procedure. I hope this helps in your decision on whether or not to consider it as a treatment option.

There are two types of laser surgery for glaucoma, one is to immense the outflow, the other to reduce the inflow. If successful, the former improves the pressure for a few years but often for shorter period of time or not at all. The latter can cause too little or too much effect, failure in both aspects. But if successful, the effect last permanently.

J. David Karlin, MD

It depends on what laser procedure is performed and which laser is used.

There are several types of laser surgery for glaucoma and the side effects are fairly minimal but should be discussed ahead of time with your ophthalmologist. They are generally safe, effective procedures.