The optic nerve can be slowly destroyed by glaucoma, in most cases due to an increase in pressure inside the eye that is most commonly a result of a blockage of the circulation of aqueous. There are many types of glaucoma, with chronic glaucoma being the most common form of the disease. All people should be checked for glaucoma by the time they are 40 years old and annual eye exams are recommended. Treatment can vary from eye drops and oral medication to conventional or laser surgery.

Procedure information
If alternatives don’t work, your doctor may recommend glaucoma surgery. A laser surgery called trabeculoplasty can be used to shrink part of the trabecular meshwork and will assist the aqueous humor in draining more easily. This surgery can take as short a time as 10 or 20 minutes.

The conventional surgery for glaucoma is called a filtering procedure, usually in the form of a trabeculectomy. During surgery, an opening is made in the sclera, the white of your eye, and a piece of trabecular meshwork is removed so the aqueous humor can freely leave the eye, and thus lower the pressure in the eye. Sometimes, drainage implant surgery is used for people with secondary glaucoma or for children. A silicone tube is placed in the eye to drain the aqueous humor.

Recovery time
Bandages will be placed over the eye for at least 24 hours, depending on the type of glaucoma surgery performed. You will need several follow-up visits after glaucoma surgery to monitor any infection and scarring. The pressure can increase at any time and most patients will need to continue with eye drops after surgery. There is no cure for glaucoma and patients with the disease must continue to have regular check-ups.