In certain cases of glaucoma, the treatment with eye drops can be insufficient or not tolerated by the patient. In addition, the laser treatments (selective trabeculoplasty, iridotomy) are sometimes not effective or recommended.
Therefore, a glaucoma filtration surgery might be indicated.
The glaucoma filtration surgery includes a number of surgical techniques where the main goal is to decrease the intra-ocular pressure and also to reduce the risk of long term progression of the condition.
In practice, the aim of the surgery is to create a communication between the front and the back of the eye in a controlled manner to keep the intra-ocular pressure under control.
The techniques we use are the following:
- Deep sclerectomy with or without a collagen implant (SPIC), where the thinest area of the eye filter (trabecula) is replaced in order to increase the eye’s filtration capacity.
- Trabeculectomy, where all the trabeculum is removed.
- The I-stent is a tube that is inserted in the trabeculum in order to increase aqueous humor’s filtration.
Each of these surgeries aims for the same result: a decrease of the intra-ocular pressure and subsequently a decrease in the risk of a long term progression of the condition.
Your ophthalmologist will discuss with you which one is the most indicated for your particular condition. These surgeries can be done under local or general anaesthesia.