Treatment for Glaucoma

SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty)

A gentle laser treatment that helps fluid drain from your eye to lower eye pressure

When to seek immediate care

  • •Sudden severe eye pain or headache after the procedure
  • •Sudden vision loss or seeing halos around lights
  • •Nausea or vomiting with eye symptoms

Contact your eye doctor immediately or seek emergency care if you experience any of these symptoms.

SLT is a safe, in-office laser procedure that helps lower eye pressure by improving how fluid drains from your eye. It targets the eye's natural drainage system (trabecular meshwork) without causing significant tissue damage, making it repeatable if needed. SLT can be used as a first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma or as an addition to eye drops, potentially reducing your dependence on daily medications.

How it works

Your eye constantly produces a clear fluid called aqueous humor that nourishes the eye and maintains its shape. This fluid drains through a mesh-like tissue called the trabecular meshwork. In glaucoma, this drainage becomes less efficient, causing fluid to build up and eye pressure to rise.

SLT uses a special low-energy laser that selectively targets pigmented cells in the trabecular meshwork. This triggers a biological response that helps the drainage tissue work better, allowing fluid to flow out more easily and reducing eye pressure. Unlike older laser treatments, SLT uses such gentle energy that it can often be repeated if the effect diminishes over time.

Animation showing SLT laser improving fluid drainage through the trabecular meshwork

Is this right for me?

This may be considered if you have:

  • Open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high eye pressure)
  • Newly diagnosed glaucoma — SLT can be an effective first treatment
  • Difficulty remembering or tolerating daily eye drop medications
  • Eye drops that aren't lowering pressure enough on their own
  • Previous ALT (argon laser trabeculoplasty) that has worn off

It may not be a good fit if you have:

  • Angle-closure glaucoma (different anatomy requires different approaches)
  • Very advanced glaucoma that needs more aggressive treatment
  • Inflammatory glaucoma or certain secondary glaucomas
  • Significant scarring or abnormalities in the drainage angle

Your glaucoma specialist will examine your drainage angle and overall eye health to determine if SLT is a good option for managing your eye pressure.

What to expect

1

Before

  • •Continue your regular glaucoma drops unless told otherwise
  • •The procedure is done in the office — no special preparation needed
  • •Your doctor may give you drops before the procedure to prepare your eye
2

During

SLT takes about 5-10 minutes. After numbing drops, a special lens is placed on your eye to focus the laser. You may see flashes of light and feel a slight sensation with each pulse, but it shouldn't be painful. The laser is applied in a pattern around the drainage angle — typically 180 to 360 degrees.

3

After

  • •You can usually resume normal activities the same day
  • •Your eye may feel slightly irritated for a day or two
  • •Anti-inflammatory drops are often prescribed for several days
  • •Continue your glaucoma drops until your doctor says otherwise
  • •Full effect typically develops over 1-3 months
SLT is FDA-approved and has an excellent safety profile. Possible side effects include temporary inflammation, pressure fluctuation, or mild discomfort. Rarely, the pressure-lowering effect may be minimal. Regular follow-up with your glaucoma specialist is essential.

Frequently asked questions

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Sources

Information on this page is based on the following authoritative sources:

Last updated: April 2026