Glaucoma Treatment

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease where fluid builds up inside your eye, increasing pressure in the eye and on the optic nerve. It progressively worsens over time, damaging the optic nerve and leading to irreversible vision loss. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years of age. While there are no apparent symptoms in its early stages, many will notice blind spots in their normal field of vision. It's important for patients to have an annual eye exam to test for glaucoma as this condition can be treated readily if diagnosed in its early stages.

What is selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)?

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a procedure commonly recommended to patients who have high intraocular pressure due to glaucoma. The procedure works by applying a laser beam to the tissue in your eye, which will stimulate the body’s natural immune response and allows the eye to drain fluid better, lowering your intraocular pressure naturally. Results of lowering eye pressure can be expected in one to three months and typically last from one to five years after surgery.

What is Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)?

Laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) is a procedure performed to treat and prevent acute angle-closure glaucoma, a condition that obstructs normal circulation of fluid within the eye and increases intraocular pressure. This procedure uses a laser to make a small hole on the outer edge of the iris, allowing the drainage of fluid and thus lowering one’s eye pressure.

Generally, LPI has a success rate of up to 70% if performed at an early stage.

What is trabectome?

Trabectome is a minimally invasive surgery designed to improve fluid drainage from the eye through a natural drainage pathway, lowering intraocular pressure and stabilizing optic nerve health and visual field damage. This procedure does not require permanent artificial implants placed in the eye and can be done along with cataract surgery.

What Is EX-PRESS Shunt?

The EX-PRESS shunt is a device used to treat glaucoma and to maintain a healthy level of internal pressure through proper drainage of fluid in the eye. The device is a metal tube as small as a grain of rice, which is barely noticeable after it has been implanted. The EX-PRESS shunt provides a long-term control of intraocular pressure.

What is trabeculoplasty?

A trabeculoplasty is a surgical procedure that creates a bypass for fluid to drain out of eyes with clogged drainage angle. By doing this, fluid can escape the eye easier, thus reducing IOP. This procedure is offered to moderate to severe stages of glaucoma patients whose IOPs are not optimally controlled with chronic eye drops. It is performed under sedation in the operating room. After successful surgery, the patient can expect to take fewer glaucoma eyedrops on daily basis.