Can glaucoma, glaucoma be operated?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by an eye doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
Glaucoma (Glocom disease) is also known as the disease of the head. This is a phenomenon in which glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve system. Glaucoma not only makes the patient feel uncomfortable, the eyes fade, but in the long run, it can also lead to blindness. The following article will help readers better understand glaucoma and how to treat it effectively.

1. What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma as well as other vision-related diseases usually occurs in middle age (people over 50 years old). In addition, the disease can develop at any other age, including children, especially those with myopia, hypertension, high eye pressure. Many studies have proven that glaucoma can be passed down from generation to generation. If someone in your family has glaucoma, your risk is 3.7 times higher than that of other people.
To know if glaucoma can be operated on, we need to have an overview of this disease.

Glaucoma is divided into 2 main types: open angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma: Open-angle glaucoma is difficult to detect because the disease develops silently. In the early stages of the disease, there are often no obvious symptoms, making the patient not feel the change until symptoms are detected. symptoms and went to the doctor, the disease was getting worse. Subjects often with open-angle glaucoma are middle-aged people. Therefore, patients are often subjective, confusing the symptoms of glaucoma with the loss of vision of old age.
Angle-closed glaucoma:
Angle-closure glaucoma is a phenomenon in which the pressure in the eye increases rapidly, your eyes suddenly have pain, eye fatigue accompanied by red and significantly blurred eyes. You may also feel nauseous or even vomit. If not treated in time, your eyes will be seriously damaged.

2. Can eyes with Glaucoma be operated on?

Many patients wonder if glaucoma can be operated? The answer is yes. However, not all cases require surgery. So when does the eye with glaucoma need surgery? Eye surgery with glaucoma by what method?

2.1. When does glaucoma eye need surgery?

Mild glaucoma can be treated with medication. Patients need to follow the doctor's instructions, use eye pressure-lowering drugs in combination with a reasonable diet and rest. However, if long-term use of drugs does not work, you will need surgery.
The second case needing glaucoma surgery is when the disease is already in a serious condition, the optic nerve is seriously damaged. To avoid the risk of blindness, people with glaucoma need surgery.
In addition, people with angle-closure glaucoma also have to have surgery quickly to help reduce pain and discomfort.

2.2. Glaucoma surgery methods

There are 3 methods of glaucoma surgery that are being used commonly today: scleral trabeculectomy, aqueous drainage tube implantation, and laser glaucoma surgery. Each method has certain advantages and disadvantages, suitable for different situations. Patients can choose the method of eye surgery to treat glaucoma under the advice of doctors.
In case the patient has angle-closure glaucoma, is hospitalized with severe pain, the doctor will conduct first aid procedures, drop medication to lower eye pressure before conducting surgery.

Glaucoma surgery by scleral trabeculectomy Water cataract surgery by scleral trabeculectomy was born very early. With this method, the doctor will surgically remove part of the sclera and iris to create an outlet for the aqueous humor. Excess fluid will follow this route out, stabilizing the pressure in the eye.
● Glaucoma surgery by implanting a drainage tube
A tube about 1.3cm long made of silicone will be grafted into the patient's eye, forming a drainage tube. Patients after surgery are often quite uncomfortable due to eye bandages. Glaucoma surgery by the method of implanting the drainage tube takes a long time because the patient will have to be monitored for a few weeks afterward.
Laser surgery for glaucoma (trabeculoplasty)
No need to use cutlery like the two methods above, the doctor will use a laser to shine on the corneal trabecular area - the drainage area to create about 100 holes small to support the drainage of aqueous humor of the eye, while in angle-closure glaucoma, the laser is used to cut the peripheral iris to prevent disease in the eye, thereby lowering the intraocular pressure. This process only takes about 15-20 minutes, is very quick and highly effective, leaving few complications later.
Laser glaucoma surgery is a step forward in medicine, making glaucoma treatment simpler and safer. With many outstanding advantages, laser glaucoma surgery is being applied very popularly, helping patients have more options in cataract surgery. After laser glaucoma surgery, patients need to follow up for about 2 - 5 years to prevent recurrence of the disease.
In addition to the above 3 methods of eye surgery for glaucoma, in New Zealand, modern medicine also discovered technology to treat glaucoma with a minimally invasive, less painful and extremely fast treatment. A tube of glue the size of an eyelash is inserted into the eye. This glue tube will directly reduce the pressure in the patient's eye.

3. Is Glaucoma surgery dangerous?

Any surgery carries certain risks and risks. After surgery to treat glaucoma, patients may experience complications such as blurred vision, eye infections, eye bleeding, cataracts, blindness. However, cases of complications are very rare. The current methods of eye surgery for glaucoma are considered to be quite safe. You should conduct surgery at large and reputable hospitals, with adequate facilities and techniques, to facilitate the treatment.

After performing eye surgery, the patient needs to follow the doctor's instructions, use enough medicine (if any) and have an abstinence and eye care regimen to help the eyes recover quickly and enhance vision. . When you see any abnormality, vision impairment, you need to be examined again for timely intervention.
The above article has given an overview of glaucoma. Not only helps you answer the question of whether glaucoma can be operated on, but also provides the methods of glaucoma surgery being applied today. Hope this information will help you and your loved ones.