ANSWER:
If you had one of the two most common glaucoma laser surgeries, argon laser trabeculoplasty or the newer selective laser trabeculoplasty you are still a candidate for Canaloplasty surgery. The main concern that we as surgeons had in those patients who have had a prior laser is that the lasers can occasionally cause some scarring, of the natural drainage canal. If we cannot get full catheterization of the canal, we can still complete the surgery but without placing the stent. And recent studies have shown that canaloplasty without placement of a stent can still be effective in reducing pressure, though not as much as with the stent placed.
Warm regards,
David Richardson, MD
Date: Aug 29, 2013
Posted in: Canaloplasty and Other Surgeries