Glaucoma Surgery & Treatments
Glaucoma is a serious condition caused by increased eye pressure. There are different sub types of glaucoma. The majority of adults with glaucoma suffer from the ‘open angle’ condition, which is typically painless and has no symptoms. It can, therefore, progress undetected, until the optic nerve has become permanently damaged. Medication is probably the most common treatment and the various options available can be discussed with your Consultant. The other, less common condition is ‘acute angle closure’ which is painful and would be treated as an emergency. Glaucoma can potentially cause blindness if not detected in time.
Open angle glaucoma
This is the most common form of the condition. It occurs when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time and stop the correct amount of fluid draining away. When this happens, the inner eye pressure rises. Open angle glaucoma can cause a gradual loss of vision, but it usually responds well to medication if caught and treated early.
Closed angle glaucoma
This is also known as acute, or narrow angle glaucoma. It is much rarer and very different to open angle glaucoma because the eye pressure usually rises very quickly. Closed angle glaucoma happens when the space between the iris and cornea is narrower than normal, leaving a smaller channel for fluid to pass through. If the drainage canals get blocked, inner eye pressure rises sharply, causing severe pain and nausea, as well as redness of the eye and blurred vision.
The Optegra treatment
There are important new imaging techniques, which are used for documenting optic nerve changes. These instruments are very useful for monitoring change in patients with glaucoma. The major machines used in the documenting of this are the OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomographer) and the HRT 3 (Heidelberg Retinal Topographer). Both machines are available at the Optegra eye care clinic.
There are a number of different treatment options. Surgery involves either laser treatment or conventional surgery to reduce inner eye pressure. Both of these procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic. Normal life can usually be resumed very quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any complications?
Like any surgery, laser surgery can cause side effects, such as inflammation. We provide drops to treat any soreness or inflammation inside the eye. Following conventional surgery, vision can be blurred for up to six weeks, but usually returns to the same level it was prior to surgery. Other possible side effects are cataracts and inflammation or infection inside the eye. These are all treatable and if any of these problems develop we will create a treatment plan to suit you.
Will I need to keep taking glaucoma medication?
This depends on your personal condition, however many patients need to continue taking their glaucoma medicine after surgery.
Will my vision be affected?
Glaucoma surgery is effective at preserving existing vision but cannot restore what has already been lost. If you have lost some sight from glaucoma, your Consultant will be able to advise you on our low vision services and devices, which may help you make the most of your remaining vision.
What are the success rates of laser and conventional surgery?
Studies over a one-year follow-up period show that in older patients, conventional surgery is successful in about 70-90% of cases. Studies on laser surgery show that it is very effective at reducing inner eye pressure in many patients.
Will the condition return?
In some cases pressure in the eye may begin to increase after time. If this happens, glaucoma drops or another operation may be necessary.
