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This type of laser surgery takes 10 to 20 minutes. You'll be given an anesthetic eyedrop, seated at a slit lamp and fitted with a special lens on your eye. Ophthalmologist aims the laser through the lens at the trabecular meshwork and applies burns to it. |
 Conventional Surgery : If eyedrops and laser surgery aren't effective in controlling your eye pressure, you may need an operation called a filtering procedure, usually in the form of a trabeculectomy (truh-bek-u-LEK-tuh-me). This procedure is done in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center.
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Using delicate instruments under an operating microscope. Ophthalmologist creates an opening in the sclera — the white of your eye — and removes a small piece of the trabecular meshwork. Although glaucoma surgery may preserve current vision, it can't restore already lost vision. Sometimes a single surgical procedure may not lower eye pressure enough, in which case you'll need to continue using glaucoma drops or have another trabeculectomy operation. |
| Drainage Implants: It is for people with secondary glaucoma or for children with glaucoma. |
| Treating Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency. When you come in with this condition, Ophthalmologist may administer several medications to reduce eye pressure as quickly as possible. You'll also likely have a laser procedure called iridotomy (ir-ih-DOT-uh-me).
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| What is your part in treatment? |
Treatment for glaucoma requires teamwork between you and your doctor. Your ophthalmologist can prescribe treatment for glaucoma, but only you can make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions and use your eye drops. Once you are taking medications for glaucoma, your ophthalmologist will want to see you more frequently. Typically, your can expect to visit your ophthalmologist every three to four months. This will vary depending on your treatment needs. |
| Loss of vision can be prevented: |
| Regular medical eye exams can help prevent unnecessary vision loss, Recommended intervals for eye exams are: |
| Ages 20 to 29: Individuals of African decent or with a family history of glaucoma should have an eye examination every 3 to 5 years. Others should have an eye exam at least once during this period. |
| Ages 30 to 39: Individuals of African decent or with a family history of glaucoma should have an eye examination every 2 to 4 years. Others should have an eye exam at least twice during this period.
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| Ages 40 to 64: every 2 to 4 years. |
Ages 65 or older: every 1 to 2 years.
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