Glaucoma Treatment & Surgery
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. With early detection and the right treatment, most patients with glaucoma retain good functional vision throughout their lives. Our specialists use a step-wise approach — starting with the least invasive effective treatment.
From Drops to Surgery — A Step-Wise Protocol
Prescription Eye Drops
Most glaucoma treatment begins with daily eye drops that either reduce fluid production in the eye or improve drainage — lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) to a safer level. Options include prostaglandins, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and alpha agonists.
Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty uses a low-energy laser to improve drainage through the eye's trabecular meshwork. It's a safe, quick, in-office procedure that can effectively lower IOP — often reducing or eliminating the need for daily eye drops.
Glaucoma Surgery
When drops and laser are insufficient, surgical options include trabeculectomy (creating a new drainage channel), tube shunt implantation (Baerveldt, Ahmed valve), and MIGS procedures such as iStent or Hydrus, often performed during cataract surgery.
Advanced Glaucoma Surgery
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
MIGS procedures use tiny devices and micro-incisions to improve aqueous outflow with minimal trauma to ocular tissue. Often combined with cataract surgery for eligible patients.
Traditional Filtering Surgery (Trabeculectomy)
Creates a new drainage bleb under the conjunctiva. One of the most effective IOP-lowering surgeries, reserved for moderate-to-severe glaucoma not controlled by other means.
Glaucoma Drainage Implants
Devices such as the Baerveldt or Ahmed valve tube shunts provide an alternate drainage pathway for patients who have failed trabeculectomy or have complex anatomy.
Why Early Treatment Matters
Glaucoma is a lifelong condition. Optic nerve damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed — which is why early treatment is so critical. The goal of treatment is not to restore lost vision, but to preserve what remains. Even when IOP is well-controlled, regular monitoring is essential to detect any progression and adjust treatment before more damage occurs.
Visual Field Testing
Performed 1–4 times per year to track any loss of peripheral vision over time — the gold standard for detecting progression.
OCT Nerve Fiber Layer
Imaging of the optic nerve fiber layer detects structural loss that may precede detectable visual field loss by years.
IOP Checks
Intraocular pressure is measured at every visit and compared against target pressure — the level at which progression is unlikely to continue.
Optic Nerve Photos
Baseline disc photographs allow comparison over time — documenting any changes to optic nerve cupping that indicate progression.
Start or Continue Your Glaucoma Treatment
Whether you've been newly diagnosed or have been managing glaucoma for years, our specialists will work with you to find the most effective, least burdensome treatment to protect your remaining vision.