Glaucoma is a condition that causes progressive damage of the optic nerve causing irreversible loss of peripheral vision and sight (for more information on glaucoma, please click here). The main aim in treating glaucoma is to slow down its rate of progression by lowering the internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure – IOP).
Treatment generally starts from the most conservative options in the form of eye drops or a simple laser procedure called ‘selective laser trabeculoplasty – SLT’ (for more information on SLT, please click here). However, when these conservative therapies fail to adequately lower the intraocular pressure or side effects from the eye drops become too intolerable, surgery may be performed to either lower the pressure further or reduce the number of eye drops required.
There are a number of glaucoma surgery procedures which all aim to lower the intraocular pressure to a varying degree. Each procedure has its own profile of pros and cons. Your doctor will determine which procedure is best suited to your individual clinical situation. Surgical procedures used in the treatment of glaucoma include:
- Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS): this is a term given to a group of newer glaucoma procedures that are safer, faster to perform and can be commonly done at the same time as cataract surgery, making it particularly helpful in patients with mild to moderate glaucoma who also require cataract surgery. (for more information on MIGS, please click here).
- XEN Surgery (for more information on this procedure, please click here).
- Trabeculectomy (for more information on this procedure, please click here).
- Glaucoma drainage device, also known as ‘Tube shunt surgery’. (for more information on this procedure, please click here).
Our doctors can discuss with you regarding further information on glaucoma surgery if required.