Alpine Eye Care

Central Northern Michigan’s Eye Surgeons

Alpine Eye Care Phone

“Dedicated to the preservation and restoration
of the precious gift of sight.”

  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Vision Correction
      • Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
      • Refractive Lensectomy
    • Senior Eye Care
      • Cataracts
      • AR Macular Degeneration
      • Glaucoma
    • Eye Conditions
      • Red Eye
      • Detached Retina
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • Eyelid Conditions
      • Dry Eye and Tears
    • Cosmetic Eye Treatment
    • Procedures
      • Eye Exams
      • Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation
      • Laser Iridotomy
      • Posterior Capsulotomy
      • iStent
      • PROKERA®
      • Vitreolysis
    • Hearing Clinic
  • Our Doctors
    • Jeffrey K. Chaulk, M.D.
    • Michael L. Habryl, D.O.
    • William R. Shouldice, O.D.
    • Dr. Brian Wade, O.D.
  • Locations
    • Gaylord Location
    • Grayling Location
    • Cheboygan Location
  • Testimonials
  • About Us
  • News & Resources
    • General News
    • Resources
  • Contact

ALT, A Procedure Offered By Alpine Eye Care – An Eye Surgeon In Grayling MI

Posted on 05.29.13

ALT, A Procedure Offered By Alpine Eye Care -  An Eye Surgeon In Grayling MIArgon Laser Trabeculoplasty or ALT is a procedure used to treat one of the leading causes of blindness in seniors today, glaucoma. Catching glaucoma early is important to preventing further damage. If caught early enough, glaucoma can be treated quite easily with medication however, occasionally, something more is needed to treat. One treatment used in cases such as these is the  ALT procedure.

About ALT

ALT was originally introduced in 1979 as a treatment for non-medically controlled glaucoma. Today, ALT and SLT are both commonly used to reduce the damage of glaucoma quite effectively. ALT is most often recommended to patients who have open angle glaucoma which is not improving with medication however, each patient is unique and you and your doctor will need to discuss if it is right for you.

How it Works

ALT reduces pressure in the eye by facilitating the draining of fluid. When a person suffers from open angle glaucoma, the normal drainage site of the eye does not function correctly, building up pressure in the eye and causing loss of vision. ALT uses an argon laser beam directed at this portion of the eye to allow the fluid to drain more effectively and stopping damage to the eye.

What to Expect During and After

Your surgery will be an outpatient surgery and should not take very long. Your eye will be numbed with eye drops and restrained to stop blinking. Your doctor will uses a special microscope and laser to make small burns in the trabecular meshwork to allow the eye to drain properly.

After surgery, you will need to have follow up visits to ensure that all is proceeding correctly however, within a few days, vision should be clearer. As with any surgery procedure, if you feel uncomfortable or have concerns, seek out medical attention right away.

Although ALT does not restore any sight already lost, it should stop or at least, slow down any further loss of vision. This is a optional procedure and with all procedures, there are risks. Be sure you are informed before you make any decisions about surgery with your eyes. Your Graying Eye Surgeon will sit down and discuss the procedure its risks and benefits with you before you begin.

If you are looking for an eye doctor or an eye surgeon in Grayling, Alpine Eye Care can help. We are located at 1200 W. North Down River Rd Grayling, MI. You can contact us locally at 989-348-8689 or toll free at 1-877-SEE-2020. You may also set up an appointment online here. Your eyes are a gift, take care of them.

Categories: Resources Tags: glaucoma

My Online Clinic
Schedule your appointment

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Recent News

  • Artificial Intelligence Can Support Ophthalmologists, Not Replace Them
  • Stem Cell Treatment for Dry AMD Moves Closer to Human Trials
  • Eye-Opening Study: Relationship Between Glaucoma and Poor Sleep
  • Fixing Seniors’ Vision May Improve Long-Term Brain Health
  • Mindfulness Meditation May Help Fight Glaucoma

Members Of:

Gaylord Chamber of Commerce

Search Our Directory

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Insurance
  • Schedule an Appointment

Designed by Ponder Consulting ®

Copyright © 2019 Alpine Eye Care. All Rights Reserved