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Laser surgery has become increasingly popular as an intermediate
step between drugs and traditional surgery. The most common
type performed for open-angle glaucoma is called trabeculoplasty.
This procedure takes between ten and twenty minutes, and is
painless, The laser beam (a high energy light beam) is focused
upon the eye´s drain. Contrary to what most people think,
the laser does not burn a hole through the eye. Instead, its
intense heat causes some areas of the eye´s drain to
shrink, resulting in adjacent areas stretching open and permitting
the fluid to drain more easily.
Traditional Surgery
The most common of these operations is called a trabeculectomy.
In this procedure, the surgeon removes a small section of
the trabecular meshwork -- the eye´s drain. This allows
the aqueous humor to drain more easily, reducing the pressure
in the eye. This procedure is usually done under local anesthesia
either as an outpatient or with a brief hospital stay. As
your doctor will want to see you on the day after the operation
to check both your vision and ocular pressure, some prefer
that you remain in the hospital. It is important to note that
your eyes may not have their normal visual acuity for several
weeks following this procedure.
Although trabeculectomy is a relatively safe surgical procedure,
about one-third of patients develop cataracts within five
years of surgery. After trabeculectomy, most patients are
able to discontinue all anti-glaucoma medications. Perhaps
ten to fifteen percent of patients require additional surgery.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make
your visit a pleasant experience.
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