Glaucoma Treatments
All of our glaucoma treatments at Bonner Eye Clinic are designed to lower eye pressure. The first line of treatment is typically an eye drop regimen of medicated, prescribed drops. Our doctors will prescribe drops for your unique challenge: to increase the outflow of fluid, reduce the production of fluid or a combination of the two.
If your eye pressure does not respond with the eye drops, surgery may be necessary. In glaucoma surgery, your doctor opens the drainage system in the angle so that the eye fluid can flow more freely. This is accomplished using a laser or incisional method. These are very quick procedures that do not typically cause discomfort.
Types of Glaucoma Treatments
- Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
- Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (STL)
- Drainage tubes (shunts)
- Laser peripheral iridotomy
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
We may recommend a MIGS procedure to increase the flow of fluids from your eye, lower your intraocular pressure and protect your optic nerve. There are several different procedures that fall under this category, but all require only tiny incisions and cause less trauma to the eye than other types of surgeries. The MIGS procedure may be done with a microscopic tube inserted into the eye to drain fluid (microtrabeculectomy), placing a tiny stent into the trabecular meshwork (see stent procedures below), inserting tiny shunts (tubes) into the eye or using laser treatment procedures.
The right treatment(s) for your eyes will depend on the type of glaucoma you have, the severity of your condition and your overall eye health. If you have glaucoma you will need to be regularly monitored to ensure that your treatment is working. By keeping your eye pressure within a normal range for your unique eyes, we may be able to protect your optic nerve from further damage.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
Laser energy is used to clear blocked channels in the trabecular meshwork. Specific cells are treated during the process. The results are not instant; it may take 1-3 months for eye pressure to lower.
Drainage Tubes (Shunts)
A flexible tube is inserted into the drainage area of the eye to promote fluid escape. This is typically done after other methods of treatment have been explored. SLT is now offered as a First Line treatment and it can be repeated if necessary. The SLT procedure is performed in-office.
Laser Peripheral Iridotomy
A laser is used to create a small hole on the outer edge of the iris for fluid release. This can be used as a preventative measure for people with narrow drainage areas in the eye or to treat existing glaucoma.
Stent Procedures
Our doctors perform stent procedures to treat open-angle glaucoma and possibly reduce or eliminate the need for medicated eye drops:
- XEN® Gel Stent: Surgical implant of a small tube that becomes soft and flexible when inserted into the eye. XEN creates a channel through which fluid can drain.
- iStent inject®: Performed during cataract surgery, this involves the implantation of two tiny stents in the trabecular meshwork (the spongy tissue located near the cornea and iris) to create openings for the flow of fluid.
Most patients do not experience pain during stent implantation.
There is no cure for glaucoma, but the treatments we provide at Bonner Eye Clinic can control the disease and help save your vision from blindness.
We’d Love to Tell You More About Glaucoma
We invite you to schedule an eye exam so we can assess your vision for signs of glaucoma or other vision conditions and discuss glaucoma treatments in Grand Rapids or Hibbing at Bonner Eye Clinic. During your visit to our practice, you will learn why so many people trust our team to protect their precious eyesight.
