What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that leads to the slow destruction of the optic nerve at the back of the eye, which then causes vision loss. Glaucoma is referred to as the ‘sneak thief of sight’ because most people don’t experience symptoms until it is very advanced. That’s why 50% of people with glaucoma in Australia are undiagnosed.
Glaucoma damage progresses very slowly and destroys vision gradually, starting with side vision. The damage is both irreversible and progressive.
What are the different treatment options?
It is important to remember that treatment cannot recover what has been lost. Treatment aims to arrest, or at least, slow down the damage process. That is why it is so important to detect the problem as early as possible. This allows us to start treatment with as little damage to the vision as possible.
Contact personalEYES to begin treatment with the leading eye specialists in NSW and ACT.
All current glaucoma treatments lower the eye pressure to a level where your glaucoma doesn’t get worse. This may take time to establish.
The vast majority of people are treated with eye drops that they take indefinitely, either once a day or twice a day. Sometimes the first drop that you try may not be right for you and your doctor will prescribe an alternative. Some people need to be on 2 or 3 types of eye drops.
Sometimes people take tablets for a short time to lower pressure in the eye. Tablets are usually used in urgent situations to control eye pressure prior to surgery.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
Some people elect to have laser treatments to lower pressure instead of eye drops. While laser treatments are as effective as eye drops, they tend to wear off over time. The laser targets specific cells in the trabecular meshwork to increase fluid outflow and lower the eye pressure.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) is transforming how glaucoma is treated. It involves making tiny incisions, inserting microscopic devices into the eye to decrease the eye pressure which could easily reduce or replace glaucoma eye drops or other invasive surgeries. Notably, MIGS will not interfere with conjunctiva (the membranous covering of the eyeball), and therefore it does not compromise the success rate of other future glaucoma filtration surgeries. However, MIGS may also be performed independently when necessary instead of during cataract surgery.
What are the MIGS procedures accessible in Australia?
Several types of MIGS procedures are accessible in Australia. To determine suitability, consult your ophthalmologist regarding options such as:
- Hydrus
- XEN Gel Stent
- PRESERFLO® MicroShunt
- MINIject
Our Specialists
Clinical A/Prof Andrew White
Glaucoma Specialist
BMedSc(Hons), MBBS, PhD, FRANZCO
Dr John Yek
Glaucoma Specialist & Cataract Surgeon
BBMed, MChD, FRANZCO
