Glaucoma Surgical Procedures

Drainage Tube Procedures
Glaucoma drainage devices, also known as tube shunts, are implant devices designed to create an artificial drainage pathway, thus lowering the eye pressure in patients with glaucoma. There are several types of drainage tubes; Ahmed, Baerveldt, Molteno, Krupin and others. In certain eyes, these tube shunts are a good option to help control glaucoma.

Tube surgery is performed in a sterile setting, usually at an ambulatory surgery center. An anesthesiologist will monitor your vital signs. You will receive medications to anesthetize your eye, and medications to help you relax. The procedure will take approximately 1 hour and your eye will be patched after the surgery.

Your doctor will see you in the office the next day. Eye drops are used to help prevent infection and inflammation. The need for glaucoma medication after tube surgery will depend on the postoperative pressure of the eye. Some drainage tubes lower eye pressure immediately while others may not function until several weeks after the surgery.

Trabeculectomy
Trabeculectomy is a glaucoma filtering procedure. The goal of this procedure is to create a new passageway by which fluid inside the eye can escape, thereby lowering the eye pressure

This surgery is performed in a sterile setting, usually at an ambulatory surgery center. An anesthesiologist will be present and will monitor your vital signs. You will receive medications to anesthetize your eye, and medications to help you relax. The procedure will take approximately 45 minutes and your eye will be patched after the surgery.

Your doctor will see you in the office the next day. Eye drops are used to help prevent infection and inflammation. The need for glaucoma medication will depend on the postoperative pressure of the eye.

Trabeculectomy with Mitomycin
With trabeculectomy surgery excess scarring can lead to premature failure of the procedure. Mitomycin is a special medication used at the time of surgery to help control scarring, therefore helping to control the eye pressure. The surgery is performed in a sterile setting, usually at an ambulatory surgery center. An anesthesiologist will be present and will monitor your vital signs. You will receive medications to anesthetize your eye, and medications to help you relax. The procedure will take approximately 45 minutes and your eye will be patched after the surgery.