When is Glaucoma Surgery Necessary?
September 10, 2024
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve. The exact cause of glaucoma isn't known, but it's often linked to excessive pressure levels inside the eye.
Without treatment, the damage to the nerve gets progressively worse over time, and it can cause vision loss and eventually blindness. There are effective treatments for glaucoma, including medications and laser treatments.
Surgery can also help manage glaucoma, but it may not be necessary unless less invasive treatments are ineffective. Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma and when glaucoma surgery is necessary!
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It can affect anyone, but it's most common in people who are fifty-five years old or older.
People with Black, Asian, or Hispanic heritage may also have a higher risk of developing glaucoma. There is no known way to prevent glaucoma, however it can be detected in the earliest stages when it’s most treatable.
Early, effective treatment can prevent vision loss. Your eye doctor can check for glaucoma during a routine eye exam.
The screening is painless. Your eye doctor will give you eye drops to numb the surface of the eye.
Then, they will use a special instrument to touch the surface of the eye and test the intraocular pressure. They can also do a dilated eye exam that allows them to see the optic nerve and examine it for signs of damage.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Glaucoma?
During the early stages, glaucoma may not cause any symptoms. As time goes on and the damage to the optic nerve increases, you will start to notice changes in your vision.
At first, you may notice patchy blind spots in your peripheral vision. This may continue and reduce your field of vision.
Without treatment, eventually optic nerve damage will lead to difficulty seeing things in your central vision. Even before symptoms are noticeable, you can start treatment for glaucoma.
This can be the most effective way of preventing vision changes.
What Treatment Methods Are Available For Glaucoma?
Prompt treatment can ensure that you never experience vision issues. Early treatment options include:
Eye Drops
One of the first lines of treatment for glaucoma is prescription eye drops. The drops contain medication that decreases the pressure in your eyes.
There are different types of glaucoma eye drops. Some work by improving natural fluid drainage in your eye.
Others are to reduce fluid production in your eye and prevent excess pressure. Your eye doctor may have you use a combination of prescription eye drops to control your intraocular pressure.
Oral Medications
Some people respond well to oral medications that can decrease the amount of fluid in the eyes. Depending on your particular needs, you may need oral medications in addition to eye drops.
Laser Treatments
If the pressure in your eye continues to be too high, your eye doctor may recommend a laser treatment to improve drainage. Your eye doctor can perform a procedure called a laser trabeculoplasty to increase drainage at the point where the iris and cornea meet inside your eye.
Laser trabeculectomy isn't an immediate fix for high intraocular pressure. You will need to wait four to six weeks after treatment to know if it was effective, and you may still need to take glaucoma medication after the procedure.
Traditional Glaucoma Surgery
If medications and laser treatments don't stabilize your intraocular pressure, you may need surgery. A surgical trabeculoplasty works similarly to a laser trabeculoplasty but uses traditional surgical tools instead of lasers.
Another option is surgery to place tiny tubes, called shunts, in your eye. The shunts improve drainage and reduce pressure in the eye
Traditional glaucoma surgery comes with a risk of complications and requires follow-up care after surgery. It's typically not recommended until glaucoma has become severe.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
Many doctors recommend newer procedures called minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). These procedures are considered extremely safe and effective.
They can increase drainage without the need for stents or changing the structure of the eye. They have a lower risk of infection and other complications compared to traditional glaucoma surgery.
These procedures are quick, take only five to ten minutes to perform, and cause minimal discomfort. The ease of performing and recovering from MIGS means that it may be an option for people whose glaucoma is less advanced.
Some providers recommend it to alleviate the need for strict adherence to oral treatments or the use of eye drops.
Don't Let Glaucoma Steal Your Sight
If you have glaucoma, you should talk to your eye doctor about which treatment options are best for you. Treatment is most effective if you follow your eye doctor's instructions and don't skip doses of eye drops of medications.
Treatment can prevent any vision loss from glaucoma.
Are you concerned about your risk of developing glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at the Center for Total Eye Care in Westminster or Eldersburg, MD, today!