How can laser treatment improve fluid drainage in glaucoma?

In glaucoma, laser treatment is used to lower intraocular pressure by facilitating the drainage of aqueous humour, the fluid that maintains the eye's internal pressure.12

A primary method for achieving this is trabeculoplasty, a type of laser surgery specifically designed to increase the permeability of the trabecular meshwork. By improving the porosity of this tissue, the laser allows the aqueous humour to flow more effectively into Schlemm’s canal, thereby reducing the buildup of fluid that leads to elevated eye pressure and potential vision loss.13

While medical management with drugs is often a first-line treatment, laser procedures provide a targeted surgical approach to enhance natural outflow pathways when other therapies are insufficient.123