Glaucoma is a form of eye disease in which fluid in the eye cannot drain properly. The lack of proper drainage can lead to loss of vision if left untreated. Excessive pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure, can be one of the causes of glaucoma, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Laser treatments can be performed on the affected eye to open the drainage canals so that fluid can pass through. Laser surgery has been approved by the National Eye Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, as being safe and effective. However, surgery of any kind, including glaucoma laser treatments, can carry some side effects.
Eye Irritation
People who have chosen to use laser surgery to correct glaucoma usually do not experience high levels of pain, according to the "Digital Journal of Ophalmology" (DJO). Some minor eye irritation may be a temporary side effect from the procedure but in most cases, resolves itself within a couple of days. Glaucoma patients may want to ask their doctors about appropriate medications to use for pain relief post-surgery.
Altered Vision
Blurry vision is a side effect commonly associated with glaucoma laser surgery. In rare cases, some vision is lost either on a temporary or permanent basis, as reported by the DJO. The Glaucoma Research Foundation states that people who have corrected their glaucoma with laser treatments have a slightly higher risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the eye's lens. Glaucoma patients should expect their sight to become clear within 1 to 2 days and must have a driver to take them home from their procedure.
Tachycardia
The National Eye Institute reports that some glaucoma patients experience tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate, immediately following laser treatments. Patients should contact their physicians if their accelerated heart rate is prolonged or becomes uncomfortable or worrisome.
