Glaucoma is one of the most prevalent causes of blindness. It is not one condition but a series of conditions that affect the health of the optic nerve. The conditions usually cause damage to the nerve by the increased eye pressure that they cause. 

The conditions typically affect your peripheral vision before leading to permanent vision loss when left untreated. There is no current cure for the disease, so all you can do is manage the condition. There are also surgical options available that can help when the medication options start to fail or are insufficient. 

Who Needs Surgery for Glaucoma?

The necessity for surgery depends on three main factors:

• The severity of the condition

• The efficacy of glaucoma medications in managing your condition

• Other health conditions you may have or comorbid eye conditions

The threat of glaucoma is significant due to how quickly it causes vision loss, making regular eye exams critical. It is crucial to stay alert to the changes in your vision and report any new symptoms immediately. 

What Surgical Options Are Available for Glaucoma?

Trabeculectomy

A trabeculectomy is usually used to treat the most prevalent form of glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma affects nine in 10 people in the United States with glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the intraocular fluid cannot flow out, increasing eye pressure. 

A trabeculectomy is a significant procedure that usually takes an ophthalmologist less than an hour to perform. Depending on your doctor's recommendation, you could be entirely under or on local anesthesia for the procedure. 

The surgeon will make a small incision under your eyelid on the top of your eye to create a channel called a bleb. They attach stitches to hold the bleb open and help your eye drain the excess fluid. The eye doctor removes stitches after two weeks when your eye is ready. 

Tube Shunt

This surgery, also called glaucoma implant surgery, can be performed on all forms of the condition. However, it is the only option available for congenital or neovascular glaucoma. It usually involves implanting a shunt or tube in the eye. 

The implants allow excess fluid to flow out through the shunt and lower the intraocular pressure. The surgery is an outpatient process that can be done with light sedation and sometimes with general anesthesia. 

MIGS or Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery

The newest form of glaucoma surgery, MIGS utilizes microscopic equipment to make tiny incisions that help relieve eye pressure. The surgery has a lot of advantages, including faster recovery and shorter procedure times. Surgeons and researchers are yet to collect long-term data on the procedure to determine how efficient the surgery is. 

CPC or Cyclophotocoagulation

CPC is a laser surgery that simultaneously reduces fluid production and eye pressure. Because glaucoma is related to excess eye fluid, the procedure targets the production of the fluid in ciliary processes. The procedure takes several forms, some more invasive than others, and is usually performed under local anesthetic.

For more information on surgical options for glaucoma, visit Coastal Vision Medical Group at our offices in Chino, Irvine, Long Beach, or Orange, California. Call (888) 501-4496 to book an appointment today.