Laser Treatment for Glaucoma near Chicago, IL

Glaucoma is a category of eye conditions that can deteriorate the eye's optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual impulses to the brain. The disease is nearly always caused by high intraocular pressure from built-up fluid. If not addressed early enough, glaucoma can lead to blind spots and/or total blindness so we recommend seeking treatment as soon as possible. The board-certified ophthalmologists at Kirk Eye Center utilize a number of advanced laser treatments to address a variety of types of glaucoma. We invite you to contact our office in River Forest or Gurnee, IL to schedule your consultation, and find out if you are a candidate for one of our glaucoma laser procedures.

If you are diagnosed with open angle glaucoma, selective laser trabeculoplasty is an excellent first line option to help control glaucoma, especially in patients where eye drops are not a practical or appealing option. Alternatively, if you have narrow or closed angle glaucoma, a laser peripheral iridotomy may be essential to help control your condition. We offer specific lasers to treat different types of glaucoma so our team will perform a comprehensive eye health assessment to determine which treatment is best for you. Your treatment will depend on the severity of your glaucoma (open-angle, closed-angle, secondary, etc.). It's vital to have glaucoma treated as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your vision.

At Kirk Eye Center, our skilled team uses top-of-the-line technology to address various types of glaucoma. We offer multiple laser-assisted glaucoma treatments based on your specific condition:

• Laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI): A laser iridotomy is a type of laser surgery that is used for narrow-angle glaucoma or for those who are potentially at risk for closed-angle glaucoma. A small hole is created in the iris to allow fluid to drain out, which helps lower eye pressure. 
• Laser trabeculoplasty: We offer selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which targets the  trabecular meshwork of the eye using light energy. This helps increase the flow of drainage. SLT does not damage tissue, has a quick recovery and works as well as our first line eye drop therapies in over 80% of patients. SLT is used in patients with open angle glaucoma.

Following your laser glaucoma treatment, you will be observed for a brief period to make sure you are in optimal health before being sent home. A member of our team will provide any follow-up instructions, in addition to detailed aftercare guidelines to help ensure proper healing. In addition, you will need to attend follow-up visits at our office so we can monitor your eye health.

Reducing eye pressure is the most effective method known to treat glaucoma. The board-certified ophthalmologists at Kirk Eye Center offer a number of laser-assisted procedures to manage the symptoms of glaucoma. It is important to get treatment as soon as possible so we encourage you to contact our office in River Forest or Gurnee, IL for a consultation if you have noticed any abnormalities in your vision.