What are the main types of Glaucoma Surgery?

If you have been treating your Glaucoma diagnosis with medicines or laser treatment and these have proved unsuccessful, you doctor may recommend surgery. Glaucoma surgery will not cure the condition, or undo vision you have lost – however it will definitely help protect your vision and prevent it from getting any worse.

The 3 main types of Glaucoma surgery are:

• Trabeculectomy
• Implant Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Trabeculectomy:

Trabeculectomy is often used to treat open-angle Glaucoma. It is performed within a hospital and will take your surgeon around an hour. A small opening will be created in the top of your eye beneath your eyelid. This opening will allow any extra fluid which has been sitting within the eye, to drain away – eventually lowering the pressure of the eye.

Implant Surgery:

Implant surgery is used to treat different types of Glaucoma such as congenital, neovascular, and Glaucoma that has been caused from an injury. Again, it is performed in a hospital and will take between 1-2 hours. During this procedure, a small tube/shunt will be implanted into the white of your eye, helping fluid to drain out, and lowering the pressure of the eye.

Minimally Invasive Surgery:

Minimally Invasive Surgery is used for patients who usually have mild Glaucoma. It involves fewer risks and side effects than usual Glaucoma surgery, and it will help you recover faster. This method will involve limited surgical manipulation of the wall of the eye, however, can only be done on patients whose Glaucoma isn’t very developed.

After any type of Glaucoma surgery, you are likely to be prescribed eye drops to prevent infection and swelling – these must be used for several weeks. It is advised that you rest for up to 4 weeks and avoid certain activities such as lifting heavy objects to help the eye heal. Regular check-ups with your doctor are important to ensure the healing process is going well.