Glaucoma surgeries, the second leading cause of blindness, need to be halted at their earliest to avoid complete vision loss. Once you have been diagnosed as a glaucoma patient, you will be given eye drops and oral medications as initial treatments. When these treatments cannot control the situation, your doctor will recommend surgery. Different methods keep evolving to treat the condition, and this article will help educate you on these various types of surgical procedures.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
Similar to the name, these microsurgery procedures are performed whenever possible, as they have fewer complications than standard glaucoma surgeries. This method uses tiny incisions and implants to reduce eye pressure.
Located in the anterior chamber angle of your eye, a tissue called the trabecular network is present and is considered a crucial determinant of intraocular pressure. MIGS involves creating new passages through or around this meshwork using tiny shunt or stent devices. This will allow the eye fluid (aqueous humor) to drain easily from the eye.
MIGS surgeries can be divided into several categories. They are;
- Microtrabeculectomies, or miniaturized versions of trabeculectomy
- Trabecular bypass operations
- Suprachoroidal shunts
- Milder versions of laser photocoagulation
Trabeculectomy
Trabeculectomy is a glaucoma treatment that creates a new channel for fluid flow in the eye. Although it cannot cure any form of vision loss you have experienced before, it can help stop or slow future vision loss.
You will be given local or general anesthesia along with sedation to make you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the process. A new channel will be opened on top of your eye beneath the eyelid, and sutures will be placed to hold the created flap, ensuring the opened site will not reseal during the process.
The stitches will be removed two weeks after the surgery, and your eye will be patched, and an eye shield will be provided until your next appointment with your surgeon.
Glaucoma Drainage Implant Surgery
These are small prosthetic devices placed to prevent further damage to your eyes while reducing the pressure. This method is mainly used to treat congenital glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, and glaucoma caused by injuries.
The process is known to work better than trabeculectomy and more efficiently controls intraocular pressure. Implants come in different shapes and sizes and are of two types: valved and non-valved implants.
These implants are designed as tubes and plate forms. A silicone tube is inserted into the front part of your eye, which acts as an artificial drain and allows fluid to pass through the plate, which is placed underneath the upper eyelid.
It usually takes three months or longer for the intraocular pressure to stabilize and reduce the intraocular pressure while preserving your existing vision.
It is said that glaucoma incisional surgeries can be successful 70-90% of the time and can last for one year. You may have no option other than opting for surgery if the oral medications and drops no longer work for you. Visit us at Spanish Eye Clinic for a comprehensive eye examination and glaucoma treatment. Our eye surgeon will recommend minimally invasive options to treat your eye condition. Browse through Spanish Eye Clinic to check our services and book your appointment for your regular eye clinic test.
