Glaucoma surgical procedures have been evolving for decades. If you suspect that you or your loved one could be at risk for glaucoma and considering surgery, this guide was created for you.
It will prepare you for glaucoma surgery[https://www.drclaudinepang.com.sg/dr-claudine-pangs-comprehensive-guide-to-glaucoma/], giving you insights on how glaucoma surgeries work, why they’re done, and what you can expect from and after a successful operation.
Most ophthalmologists use glaucoma surgery only as the last option when the patient can’t use prescription medications. It may also be an ideal option if your ophthalmologist has used alternative treatments but still doesn’t notice worthwhile improvement with your condition.
Does Vision Improve after Glaucoma Surgery?
Surgical procedures for glaucoma are not done to improve vision for patients afflicted with this disorder. Instead, they’re designed to lower intraocular eye pressure (IOP).
To understand the logic behind this, it would be better to understand how glaucoma manifests itself. Real quick, glaucoma is described as a group of diseases that causes damage to the optic nerve.
Studies show that abnormally high internal eye pressure, also known as intraocular eye pressure (IOP), may make this condition worse. By lowering the IOP, your glaucoma specialist tries to slow down the progress of this condition by creating a drain that will direct excess aqueous fluid out of your eye.
Therefore, your vision will not improve after glaucoma surgery. Besides, the surgeries will not cure you of glaucoma and not restore sight if at all; you had lost your vision before this procedure.
Instead, the effects of glaucoma will be rescinded following, so this condition doesn’t end up making you blind. It is also essential to note that the pressure reduction you achieve with this procedure isn’t a permanent one.
Depending on the type of glaucoma surgery you’ve received, you can expect the pressure reduction effect to last between 6 months and 10 to 15 years.
Is Glaucoma Surgery Painful
Glaucoma surgery isn’t a painless procedure. To combat this, your glaucoma specialist will treat you with a local anesthetic or a sedative to numb the pain around your eye region or make you sleep.
Therefore, if you are treated with pain-numbing medications or sedative drugs correctly, you will not find glaucoma surgery painful. Just like other surgical procedures, most patients report mild discomfort following the operation.
The discomfort may last for a few weeks, and you’ll be given medications you can use to dial back the pain. You may also experience a ‘scratchy’ sensation following your surgery.
It is advisable that you don’t scratch the surgical wound area to give your body enough time to heal. You will also most certainly feel the stitch your ophthalmologist used to close the surgical wound.
As a general rule, it is also essential that you don’t interfere with it. It is made of absorbable material; therefore, it doesn’t need to be removed.
It will typically dissolve in your system within 4 to 6 weeks. If you feel extreme discomfort, be sure to let your glaucoma specialist know. Depending on your condition, they may prescribe lubricating eye ointments to minimize the discomfort.
Will Glaucoma Cause Blurry Vision
Blurry vision is just one of the side effects you may experience from glaucoma surgery. Some patients experience temporary blurry vision[https://www.foxnews.com/health/vision-problems-common-after-glaucoma-surgery] that lasts for around 3 to 6 weeks following the operation.
It is not a cause for concern, so you should expect it, so you don’t become upset when it happens. Ideally, your ophthalmologist will let you know this beforehand before consenting to the procedure.
How long does it take to recover from a Glaucoma Surgery?
Recovery from a glaucoma surgery isn’t complicated unless any other complications are involved like eye infections or injury to the treated eye. In most patients, it takes around 3 to 6 months to recover from this procedure.
To avoid any complications that may make a recovery complicated, your eye specialist will give you some guidelines to observe as you heal. For instance, you will need to sleep with your head slightly elevated and not on your sides.
You will also be given specific post-op eye drops, which you will need to use for around two to three months to aid in your recovery. These eye drops will allow your eye to heal at the desired pace and relieve you of pain and prevent infections.
Here is a rundown of some of the post-op eye drops you can expect;
• A pupil dilation medication. This will be prescribed to help you minimize discomfort in the eye.
• Anti-inflammatory medication, most certainly prednisone. This medication will help minimize inflammatory activity, which may worsen the pain following surgery.
• Antibiotics. As you probably already know, antibiotics will help prevent infections.
Before glaucoma surgery, you will most certainly have an appointment with your ophthalmologist. Be sure to discuss with them any concerns you may have about the procedure, including pain expectations.
In Closing
It is easier to manage the effects of glaucoma if diagnosed early. Even though glaucoma surgery won’t improve your eyesight, at least it will save you from going blind all together. Contact us today to learn more and possibly book an eye exam to assess your condition.