Glaucoma & Retinal Surgery - Things You Must Know!

Caring for your eyes is important for great vision, but at times certain ailments, such as glaucoma and retinal detachment can be a cause for concern. Glaucoma is a condition, which causes the degeneration of the optic nerve of the eye. Retinal detachment, on the other hand, is an eye disorder which leads to peeling of the retina from the underlying tissue.

All about glaucoma
There are quite a few options when it comes to the surgery of glaucoma, though a doctor’s advice would be needed to choose the right one. Each type of surgery caters to a certain situation. One of them is known as trabeculectomy. While the term may seem a bit complex, it basically refers to a surgery in which there is a pathway made for the outflow of the water-like substance in the eye. It is good to know that this is a non-laser surgery, so all the complexity which comes with a laser surgery is avoided.

There is another glaucoma surgery called a trabeculotomy, which is basically the same but there is no tissue which is removed, unlike a trabeculectomy. The names can be confusing, can’t they?
While all these surgeries are good, why exactly are they needed? Well, the aim is to reduce the pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP). Doing this helps prevent further damage. In short, all glaucoma surgeries endeavour to reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye or to drain it.

All about retina surgery
The retina can be thought of as the screen at the back of the eye onto which everything projects.

• When it comes to why a retina gets detached, it can happen due to a variety of reasons. Some of the most common are injuries as a result of accidents and eye infections. Eye diseases like glaucoma and the like can also cause it. However, the good news is that there is corrective surgery for this, which is proven to work.
• The surgery for the retina includes sealing up any tears as well as positioning it correctly again. In many cases, an air bubble helps get the retina back in place. If there are tears in the retina, laser helps repair them. These surgeries include pneumatic retinopexy and sclera buckle surgery. The primary objective of such surgeries is to reattach the retina and to prevent vision loss.
• Considering how serious a matter it is, it is only to be expected that recovery from retinal detachment surgery is a gradual process. Precautions which need to be taken include not visiting high altitude places or flying unless the doctor has given an ok as this could lead to an increase in the eye’s pressure.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!