Glaucoma Treatment

If priority glaucoma treatments are insufficient to keep your Glaucoma under control, and if your general health is available, your doctor will check and decide whether you are eligible for surgery

2 to 7 days

Patients need to be sure to discuss their current medications, any health conditions, the device they use such as contact lenses with their doctor so together they can manage their health and/or vision concerns during the glaucoma treatment process.

All glaucoma surgery procedures are designed to achieve one of two main outcomes: reduce intraocular fluid production or increase the outflow (drainage) of the same fluid. To increase the drainage of the intraocular fluid, ophthalmologists perform laser trabeculoplasty to create small holes in the perforation angle of the eye where the cornea and iris meet. As a second option, ophthalmologists can recommend a surgical incision in the drainage system of the eye to create new channels for more normal fluid flow. This procedure involves partial removal of the drainage system of the eye. Glaucoma surgeries may be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia.The laser procedure takes about 5 to 10 minutes while trabeculectomy takes from 30 to 60 minute

After surgery, the patient's eye may be red and watery, and vision may become blurred for up to 6 weeks. During the recovery period of glaucoma treatment, patients are advised to keep their eye dry and avoid driving, reading, and heavy lifting for at least one week.

Glaucoma surgeries may include some possible risks and complications such as:

• Cataract
• Incision infection or leakage
• Very low pressure
• Bleeding in the eye

After surgery, the new drainage pathway opened by surgery may close and cause the pressure in the eye to rise again.

As with any type of surgery, there are side effects for glaucoma surgery, as well. They include:

• Redness
• Pain
• Excessive tearing
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Low Eye Pressure
• Vision loss
• Scarring

According to the studies conducted to measure patient satisfaction after the glaucoma surgery, 80% of patients are satisfied or very satisfied with their short and long-term outcomes.

Since Glaucoma is insidiously progressive and may be too late to treat, periodic eye examinations are important for early diagnosis. Especially in the early stages of Glaucoma diagnosed, treatments provide very successful results.

What Is Glaucoma Treatment?

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition which results from excessive pressure in the eye. Glaucoma develops painless and invisible and is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, after cataracts. This insidious disease is detected too late, generally after the optic nerve has already been damaged. Glaucoma treatment aims to reduce eye pressure and prevent visual loss before it becomes irreversible.

Can Glaucoma Treatment Prevent Blindness?

If it is left untreated, Glaucoma can cause blindness. Glaucoma treatment cannot reverse the damageof eye nerves that have already occurred, but it can prevent further vision loss.

Is Glaucoma Treatment Successful?

Surgical glaucoma treatment is often very successful at significantly slowing the progression of Glaucoma and achieving the expected and desired eye pressure. However, if Glaucoma left untreated, it is almost certain that vision will be lost.

This content is written and reviewed by our medical content team in August, 2019.