More than 4 million Americans have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause damage to the optic nerve, often associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Rises in IOP often occur when the fluids in the eyes don’t drain properly. This buildup can harm the optic nerve over time and increase your risk of vision loss.
In most instances, glaucoma can be managed with noninvasive and minimally invasive therapies, such as eye drops and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). However, more severe cases may require glaucoma surgery.
Anand Bhatt, MD, and our team at Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma in Santa Ana, California, specialize in glaucoma treatment, including surgery. Here, we explain initial approaches to glaucoma management, when surgery becomes necessary, and what to expect.
When glaucoma is caught in the early stages, we often recommend noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments to control IOP. This typically involves using prescription eye drops or undergoing an outpatient laser procedure, like SLT. Both treatments help reduce eye pressure and slow the disease’s progression.
Nearly 75% of people respond well to these therapeutic approaches. But for between 20-25% of glaucoma patients, surgery is needed to provide lasting IOP control.
Sometimes, intraocular pressure (IOP) doesn’t respond to conservative measures. This can happen because of factors like advanced glaucoma or intolerance or inefficacy of medical treatments. When that occurs, surgery is often the best way to protect your eyesight.
Glaucoma surgery falls into two categories:
During MIGS, your surgeon makes small incisions in your eye and performs a procedure to bypass the trabecular meshwork (the filter covering your eye’s drainage system). This allows eye fluid to drain more easily and lowers the eye pressure, preventing buildup and optic nerve damage.
Sometimes, MIGS isn’t as effective as we would hope. In these cases, we may recommend glaucoma implant surgery or a procedure called a trabeculectomy.
During implant surgery, a small, flexible tube is inserted into your eye, creating a new fluid pathway for drainage. A trabeculectomy, on the other hand, creates a new drainage channel for the aqueous humor by creating a fistula through the sclera (wall of the eyeball). This channel improves fluid outflow and reduces IOP.
If you’re concerned about your risk of glaucoma or have a family history of the disease, the best thing to do is schedule annual eye exams to check eye pressure. We can monitor your IOP over time and alert you to any changes that could indicate an issue, keeping your eyes healthy and vision sharp.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with glaucoma and told you need surgery, try not to stress. We’ve got some great educational videos that explain each procedure in-depth, so you can better understand what to expect.
Glaucoma surgery is often necessary when other treatments can’t adequately control eye pressure or you have an advanced case of the disease. Still, there’s nothing to worry about. We offer various surgical approaches that can reduce IOP and preserve your vision.
Schedule a consultation today by calling our office at 714-541-4185 or using the online booking feature.
