The word “laser” can sound intimidating — but selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is one of the gentlest, most well-studied treatments in all of eye care. It’s done right here in our North Bend office, takes just a few minutes, requires no sedation, and you can drive yourself home afterward.
If you’re newly diagnosed and deciding how to start treating your glaucoma, SLT is a proven first-line option. A landmark clinical trial — the LiGHT study — showed that SLT works as well as daily eye drops for controlling pressure, with fewer side effects and lower cost.
If you’re already on drops and your pressure needs better control, or the drops are causing irritation, redness, or side effects you’re tired of living with — SLT can help bring your pressure down further, and in some cases reduce or eliminate drops altogether.
Eye drops remain an important tool, and some patients do best with a combination of laser and drops. Our team will help you figure out what’s right for you.
Now available at our North Bend office.
SLT isn’t an either/or choice with eye drops — it’s a tool that fits into your treatment plan wherever you are in your glaucoma journey. How much it can do for you depends on your starting point.
SLT is a proven first-line treatment — meaning it can be your starting point, not just a backup if drops don’t work. The LiGHT study followed patients with newly diagnosed, early-stage glaucoma who had never been on drops. After 6 years, nearly 70% of those treated with SLT first stayed at their target pressure without any drops or surgery. Starting with SLT means avoiding the daily cost, irritation, and potential side effects of drops altogether — at least initially, and for many patients, for years.
If your pressure is stable on drops but you’d like to simplify, SLT can help. A recent study found that patients who switched from drops to SLT reduced their medications significantly — and over 60% stayed drop-free for six years. Patients on a single medication had even better results, with over 80% remaining off drops. Fewer drops means less irritation, less preservative exposure to your eye surface, and fewer systemic side effects.
If your current drops aren’t bringing your pressure down enough, SLT can provide meaningful additional lowering — about a 20% reduction on average. It won’t replace your drops in this situation, but it can be the boost that gets your pressure to a safer level and may reduce the number of medications you need.
SLT can also be repeated if pressure rises again over time, with evidence suggesting repeat treatments may last even longer.
A note about eye drops: Drops work — and they remain an important part of glaucoma care. But they do come with trade-offs: daily cost, irritation, preservative damage to your eye surface with long-term use, and systemic side effects that many patients don’t realize are connected to their drops (fatigue, changes in heart rate and breathing, mood changes). Studies also show patients only have their drops available about two-thirds of the time. SLT doesn’t replace drops for everyone — but for many patients, it reduces the burden in a meaningful way.
If you’re not sure whether SLT is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Dale during a regular clinic visit. She’ll review your glaucoma history, examine your eyes, and discuss whether SLT makes sense for your situation. If you decide to proceed, we’ll schedule the laser for a separate visit.
If you’ve already discussed SLT with your eye care provider and you’re ready to move forward, we can do your consultation and laser treatment in the same appointment. This is a convenience option — you’re never locked in. If Dr. Dale evaluates your eyes and recommends a different approach, that’s what we’ll do.
Most patients feel little to nothing. The eye is numbed with drops beforehand. Some people notice a mild sensation during the laser pulses, but it’s over in a few minutes.
Typically several years, though it varies. The LiGHT study showed nearly 70% of patients maintained target pressure at 6 years. If your pressure starts to rise again, SLT can be safely repeated — and repeat treatments may last even longer than the first.
For many patients, yes. The LiGHT study showed that about 74% of patients treated with SLT first remained drop-free at 3 years. For others, SLT reduces the number of drops needed. Dr. Dale will set realistic expectations based on your situation.
SLT lowers pressure by 20–30% on average, which is enough for many patients. If you need further pressure reduction, drops or MIGS surgery are still available as next steps. SLT doesn’t burn bridges — it preserves all your future treatment options.
Very. Major clinical trials reported no serious laser-related adverse events. About a third of patients experience temporary redness, mild discomfort, or light sensitivity that resolves within a day or two. A small percentage (about 5%) have a brief pressure spike on the day of treatment that resolves on its own.
Yes. SLT can be added to your current regimen to bring pressure lower, or it may allow Dr. Dale to reduce or eliminate some of your drops over time.
Just let us know you’re interested — you can click the button below to request a consultation and Sabrina, our surgery coordinator, will be in touch. Or call any of our three locations directly. We’ll take it from there, including getting any records we need from your referring doctor. You don’t need to do anything special.
Dr. Dale performs SLT laser treatment at our North Bend office. She’ll evaluate whether SLT is right for your glaucoma, perform the procedure, and monitor your response.
Our optometrists are comprehensive eye care providers who manage glaucoma, perform post-laser follow-up visits, and take care of everything else — glasses, contacts, dry eye, and more. Whether your ongoing glaucoma care is with Dr. Dale, one of our ODs, or a mix of both, our doctors work as a team.
Fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to you shortly to discuss your options and schedule your visit.
We’ll reach out to you shortly to discuss your options and schedule your visit.
Prefer to call? Reach us at 425.831.2020
No referral needed. New patients always welcome.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rebecca Dale, MD — April 1, 2026
