The delicate, microscopic incisional trabeculectomy (with or without ExPRESS microshunt implantation), tube shunt implantation (a shunt is a glaucoma drainage device), and cyclophotocoagulation are all glaucoma procedures. MIGS, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, is another emerging treatment. Each type of glaucoma surgery has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.When considering glaucoma surgery, you should have a thorough discussion with your physician regarding the risks and benefits of each procedure.

When considering glaucoma surgery, you should have a thorough discussion with your physician regarding the risks and benefits of each procedure. We shall cover the dangers and benefits of glaucoma surgery in general in this article.

Glaucoma surgery, like any other operation, carries dangers. This article explains several hazards so that you can have an open conversation with your eye surgeon (ophthalmologist). However, it is crucial to highlight that surgery has a very high success record in significantly delaying the progression of glaucoma. The benefits of surgical surgery for advanced glaucoma cases often outweigh the dangers. Discuss the following (rare) glaucoma surgery risks or side effects with your doctor from Ace medicare

Each of the dangers is discussed here, along with why we believe the benefits exceed them.

In the immediate aftermath of your operation, glaucoma surgery temporarily impairs your vision. It is critical to recognize that permanent eyesight can be decreased or perhaps lost entirely as a result of any of these glaucoma operations; nevertheless, vision loss is not a common long-term adverse effect. As a result, surgery is more likely to help your vision in the long run.

Even with the greatest surgical methods, problems can occur with any of these operations. Bleeding inside the eye, infection, and fluid pockets behind the retina due to extremely low ocular pressures are all uncommon or rare consequences. Bleeding inside the eye can be a dangerous consequence, so consult your ophthalmologist if you are taking blood thinners and follow his/her recommendations on whether to continue or discontinue them. the medicine prior to surgery.

To avoid infection, eye specialists use antibiotics before, during, and after surgery, as well as strict sterile practices. However, infection inside the eye can occur on extremely rare instances, which can be quite serious and jeopardize vision. Infections can develop weeks, months, or even years after surgery. As a result, even if it's years later, if you notice early indicators of infection, such as redness, pain, or excessive tearing, you should contact your ophthalmologist right away to treat the infection before it becomes serious. Most infections can be effectively treated with antibiotic drops if detected early.

Eye pressures that are too low, also known as hypotony, can occur as a result of surgery. This is more common right after surgery. Fluid may collect behind the retina (choroidal detachment) in hypotony, causing a shadow in your peripheral or side vision. This is usually only temporary, as the pressure returns to the desired levels. Sometimes, however, hypotony persists and surgery is required to correct the problem.

These glaucoma surgeries, which are more common than eye pressures that are too low, may fail over time due to the natural healing or scarring tendencies of the eye, resulting in eye pressures that are higher than intended. Scarring can sometimes be so severe that the operation fails. achieve a lower pressure, you may need to restart your glaucoma medications, have clinic revisions, or repeat surgery in the operating room.

Cataract formation will most likely be accelerated by glaucoma surgery, but cataracts are relatively easy to treat surgically. If your ophthalmologist believes that the cataracts are having a moderate to significant impact on your vision, glaucoma surgery may be combined with cataract surgery. However, for some glaucoma surgeries, it is preferable to perform the glaucoma surgery first and then address the cataract in a subsequent operation.

MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) is a group of newer procedures that are typically combined with cataract surgery to lower eye pressure to the mid-teens range. The safety profile of these procedures is generally higher than that of the more traditional glaucoma surgeries described above. This improved safety profile, however, is offset by a more modest reduction in eye pressure. As a result, for patients with early- to moderate-stage glaucoma, these procedures are usually combined with cataract surgery. MIGS procedures are less likely to achieve the required low eye pressures in patients with advanced glaucoma.

Although glaucoma surgery can prevent further vision loss and, in rare cases, even improve vision, glaucoma damage is considered permanent. and is not yet treatable with medication, laser surgery, eye stents, or MIGS. While it is critical to understand the risks discussed above, many of which are uncommon, it is also critical to recognise that the vast majority of glaucoma surgeries are successful in slowing the progression of the disease and achieving the desired eye pressure. As a result, we recommend working with your ophthalmologist to explore options when the time is right, rather than delaying treatment unnecessarily.