Laser trabeculoplasty is a short clinic treatment for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Low-energy laser pulses are applied to the trabecular meshwork, the drainage tissue in the angle of the eye, so that fluid leaves the eye more easily and the pressure falls.
In suitable eyes it lowers pressure by roughly a fifth to a third and can reduce or replace daily drops. It does not restore vision already lost to glaucoma, the effect fades over a few years in many people, and some eyes do not respond at all.
What Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) involves
Your pressure is measured and the drainage angle is examined with a contact lens (gonioscopy) to confirm it is open. Anaesthetic drops numb the eye, and often a drop is given to prevent a pressure spike. You sit at a slit lamp similar to the one used for examinations. The doctor places a mirrored lens on the eye and delivers around 50 to 100 brief laser spots to half or all of the meshwork. With the selective (SLT) laser the energy targets pigmented cells and leaves the surrounding tissue intact, which is why it can be repeated. Pressure is rechecked about an hour later before you leave.
Who is a good candidate for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)?
It suits adults whose eye pressure needs lowering and whose drainage angle is open.
- Newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, as a first treatment instead of drops
- People who struggle with drops because of allergy, dry eye, cost or forgetfulness
- Pigmentary or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, which often responds well
- Patients already on drops who need a little more pressure lowering
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Angle-closure glaucoma, where the meshwork cannot be reached
- Inflammatory (uveitic) or neovascular glaucoma
- Advanced glaucoma needing a very low target pressure, where surgery is more reliable
- Eyes with a cloudy cornea that prevents a clear view of the angle
الخيارات التقنية
- Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT): The standard choice today. Gentle, repeatable, used as first-line treatment or as an add-on to drops.
- Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT): The older thermal technique. Effective but scars the meshwork, so it is rarely repeated.
- Micropulse or pattern laser trabeculoplasty: Newer variants offered in some units, with results broadly similar to SLT.
ماذا يحدث خلال علاجك
The laser itself takes 5 to 10 minutes per eye. You stay awake and sit upright. You see flashes of green or red light and may feel a slight tapping or nothing at all. The contact lens feels odd rather than sore. Vision is blurred for an hour or two from the gel and the bright light, so do not plan to drive afterwards.
الإعداد لرحلتك
One session per eye. Both eyes can be treated on the same day or a few days apart. The full effect takes 4 to 8 weeks to show, so the pressure check that tells you whether it worked is usually done by your own ophthalmologist at home. A stay of 2 to 3 days covers assessment, laser and a next-day check.
- Tell the doctor about medication, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any history of cold sores, keloid scars or autoimmune disease
- Avoid alcohol, aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers for a few days beforehand if your own doctor agrees, to reduce bruising
- Arrive without make-up on the treatment area and avoid sunbeds and strong sun for two weeks before
التعافي والنتائج
Most people return to normal activity the next day. Mild redness, light sensitivity or an ache can last 2 to 3 days, and some doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drops for a few days. Continue your glaucoma drops until you are told to stop. Pressure is measured at 1 to 2 weeks and again at 6 to 8 weeks. Lifelong glaucoma monitoring continues whatever the result.
- Back to everyday activity: None to 1 day
- When results show: Pressure falls over 4 to 8 weeks
- How long they last: Typically 2 to 5 years
سياسة السلامة والمخاطر والتنقيح
Serious complications are uncommon, but the treatment does not work for everyone.
- A temporary pressure spike in the first hours, occasionally needing extra drops or tablets
- Mild inflammation inside the eye with redness and light sensitivity
- No useful pressure drop in roughly one in four or five eyes
- Gradual loss of effect over 2 to 5 years, needing repeat laser, drops or surgery
- Rarely, corneal haze or swelling, usually temporary
- Very rarely, a lasting rise in pressure that needs surgery
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Whether one or both eyes are treated
- The work-up needed beforehand, such as visual fields, OCT and gonioscopy
- Type of laser used
- Follow-up pressure checks included in the visit
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Can I stop my drops afterwards?
Possibly, but not straight away. Your doctor decides once the pressure has been rechecked at 6 to 8 weeks. Many people reduce the number of drops rather than stop them all.
Can it be repeated?
SLT can usually be repeated once the effect wears off, although the second response may be a little weaker.
Is it the same as laser eye surgery for glasses?
No. It does not change your focus or your need for glasses. It only treats eye pressure.
Does it work for angle-closure glaucoma?
No. Narrow or closed angles are treated with a different laser, called iridotomy, or with lens surgery.