Glaucoma is a chronic and complex ocular disease. It needs to be carefully managed by your eye care provider. Typically, glaucoma can be managed with eye drops to control the intraocular pressure, but in some cases that progress even on eye drop therapy, glaucoma surgery is required.
Depending on the type of glaucoma present, various treatment options may be considered. Typically, non-surgical options, such as prescription eye drops, or oral medications are administered first. In most cases, glaucoma can be adequately controlled with one or more of these drugs. But some people may require surgery to further reduce their intraocular pressure. The goal of these procedures is to improve the outflow or drainage of fluid from within the eye. Occasionally, surgery can eliminate the need for glaucoma eye drops. However, some patients may still require eye drops even after having glaucoma surgery.
Common glaucoma laser and surgical procedures performed at Pacific Northwest Eye are Laser Trabeculoplasty and Trabeculectomy. Our surgeons also utilize Micro Incision Glaucoma Surgical Procedures (MIGS) with devices such as the Istent Inject, Hydrus Microstent, Kahook Blade, and Xen Gel Stent. Pacific Northwest Eye keeps up to date on the latest technologies and devices available to treat glaucoma and customize our approach to our patients depending on the severity and type of glaucoma unique to them.