services and procedures

New Laser to Treat Glaucoma During Cataract Surgery

Richard G. Davis, MD and Adam H. Bloom, MD from Precision Eye Care have been using a laser during cataract surgery to treat patients that have both cataracts and glaucoma. "Most people who have glaucoma will eventually go on to develop cataracts," says Davis. "In my experience, using this laser effectively reduces the pressure in the eye after cataract surgery so most of my patients are able to stop using their glaucoma drops. The laser treatment adds about 2 to 3 minutes to the operative time and most patients who have glaucoma would benefit."

The laser works by decreasing the production of fluid in the eye, thereby lowering the pressure and preserving the health of the optic nerve. The entire surgical procedure, including the cataract surgery and laser takes less than 10 minutes, involves no injections, is painless and the patient leaves without the need for a patch.

"Most of our established glaucoma patients are getting to the age where cataracts interfere with their quality of life. Utilizing this new, cutting edge technology, we are able to not only improve vision, but improve our ability to control pressure with less medication after surgery" states Dr. Bloom. "In a recent study of 140 consecutive patients having the laser in conjunction with cataract surgery performed by Dr. Davis, 85% were able to discontinue their glaucoma medications."

Island Eye Surgicenter is one of only a few facilities on Long Island to have such a laser. "The physicians that use our center are at the forefront of their specialty", states Robert Nelson, PA-C, Director of Operations and Clinical Services at Island Eye Surgicenter. "Of the more than 4000 cataract surgeries we will do this year, about 400 will also have the glaucoma laser as part of their procedure."

"There have been many new findings in the field of glaucoma and the efficacy of this laser treatment is just one of the new landmarks in the specialty," states Dr. Davis. "Our understanding of the importance of corneal thickness in the measurement of the true eye pressure is another example of the progress being made in the field. Unless you have your corneal thickness measured, your physician can not tell you whether the intraocular pressure he measures is accurate. In our practice, we make sure every patient who either has glaucoma or is a suspect has their corneal thickness checked."