Glaucoma Surgery & Management

Why is Glaucoma Surgery Needed?

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually due to abnormally high pressure in your eye (Intraocular Pressure). Since vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, the goal of surgery is to lower eye pressure to prevent any further damage.

Surgery is typically recommended when prescription eye drops and medications are no longer effective at controlling the pressure.

Laser Treatments

Often the first surgical step, laser treatments are quick, outpatient procedures:

• Laser Trabeculoplasty: Used for open-angle glaucoma. A laser beam is used to open up the clogged drainage canals in the eye, allowing fluid to drain more easily.
• Laser Iridotomy: Used for closed-angle glaucoma. The laser creates a tiny hole in the iris to allow fluid to flow into the anterior chamber, rapidly reducing pressure.

Trabeculectomy (Filtering Surgery)

If laser surgery is not sufficient, a traditional surgery called Trabeculectomy is performed. During this procedure, the surgeon creates a tiny new drainage channel in the white part of the eye (sclera).

This allows excess fluid to drain out of the eye into a small reservoir (bleb) hidden under the upper eyelid, significantly and permanently lowering the pressure inside the eye.

Recovery & Precautions

Recovery from a trabeculectomy takes a few weeks. Your vision may be blurry for the first few days, which is normal as the eye pressure adjusts to its new, safer level.