Glaucoma is a disease that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging the optic nerve, which is located at the back of the eye. This is usually caused by increased eye pressure. Fluid is continuously produced within the eye and if this fluid is unable to drain adequately, it starts to build up and the pressure within the eye increases, leading to damage to the eye nerve and vision loss1.
Eyes with glaucoma have either open angles or closed angles, and I will be focusing on open angle glaucoma in this article as it is the most common subtype of glaucoma worldwide.
As eye pressure usually increases gradually in eyes with open angle glaucoma, most patients do not experience symptoms in the early stages. By the time they discover that some-thing is wrong, the glaucoma is often already very advanced.
By this stage, many are left with no choice but to undergo surgery to prevent the glaucoma from progressing. However, if detected early, glaucoma can be treated with less invasive options such as topical medications and laser procedures.
Please allow me to explain the non-surgical options for treating open angle glaucoma, how
to ascertain whether surgery is necessary and some simple steps you can take to prevent
your glaucoma from progressing.
For newly diagnosed open angle glaucoma, prescription eye drops are often the first-line treatment. However, recent studies[4] have shown that glaucoma laser procedures are a safe, effective and cost-effective alternative to glaucoma eyedrops as a first-line treatment in newly diagnosed open angle glaucoma patients
Currently, the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma is eye pressure, hence all glaucoma treatment options aim to reduce the eye pressure. There is no cure for glaucoma and it is not possible to reverse the vision loss or eye nerve damage already sustained.
Hence, it is important to diagnose glaucoma early, initiate treatment as soon as possible, so as to prevent further glaucoma progression.
| Type of treatment | How it works | Side effects | Frequency of treatment |
| Glaucoma Eye Drops | Lowers the pressure in the eye by either reducing fluid production in the eye or increasing the drainage of fluid from the eye. | These may include: - Stinging, itching, burning in your eye - Blurry vision - Headaches - Changes in the eye colour or the colour of the skin around your eye - Breathing difficulties | Glaucoma eye drops would need to be used everyday as instructed by your eye doctor. |
| Laser Treatment | Seletive Laser Trabeculoplasty: A laser is used to increase the outflow of fluid from your eye, hence decreasing the eye pressure. | Selective laser trabeculoplasty is generally a very safe procedure which requires only 5-10 minutes. Occasionally, it is associated with these complications, which are often transient: - Increase in eye pressure - Swelling of the cornea, the transparent structure in front of the eye - Swelling of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye - Eye inflammation | A large study has shown that 3 in 4 patients do not require glaucoma medications 3 years after selective laser trabeculoplasty. Selective laser trabeculoplasty can be repeated if the eye pressure increases, or other modalities of treatment (eg. glaucoma medications or surgery) may be considered.[1] |
While eye drops and laser procedures are usually the first-line treatment options for glaucoma, I would recommend glaucoma surgery in these scenarios:
There are many options for glaucoma surgery in Singapore, and I would tailor the surgery according to each patient’s needs and requirements. Some surgeries I perform are:
| Surgery | How it works |
| Tube implant surgery | A tube is inserted into the eye to allow fluid to drain out. |
| Trabeculectomy surgery | An incision is made in the eye to allow fluid to drain out. |
| Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) | MIGS uses microscopic instruments to increase fluid drainage out of the eye. MIGS can be broadly divided into two types: 1. MIGS that increases drainage of fluid via through internal drainage pathways 2. MIGS that drains fluid externally out of the eye area |
Please read more about glaucoma surgery here.
Read: Why the Paul Glaucoma Implant is changing the future of glaucoma
Using your glaucoma eye drops daily as instructed by your eye doctor is crucial in preventing the progression of glaucoma. It is also very important to schedule regular appointments with your eye doctor so that he/she can monitor your eye pressure and glaucoma tests.
While diet and lifestyle have no direct impact on glaucoma, making diet and lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of conditions like diabetes and hypertension which are risk factors for glaucoma.
As such, I recommend:
In conclusion, glaucoma can be treated with surgery as well as non-surgical options. If glaucoma medications and laser procedures work well to reduce your eye pressure, surgery may not be required. If you have any questions regarding glaucoma, please feel free to drop me a message.
38 Irrawaddy Road Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, #06-25, Singapore 329563
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Saturday: 9am - 1pm
Sunday / PH: Closed
