Trabeculectomy
Surgical option
for treating glaucoma
What exactly is trabeculectomy?
Trabeculectomy is a surgical option for treating glaucoma, an eye condition that, if left uncontrolled, can lead to permanent vision loss or total blindness. When other treatment approaches, such as the use of anti – glaucoma eye drops or laser techniques, are insufficient, then the surgical procedure becomes the one-way option to control intraocular pressure. Trabeculectomy is the most widely performed surgical method to face glaucoma.
In trabeculectomy procedure, an artificial alternative pathway (by – pass) is created for the drainage and outflow of the eye’s aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the outer surface of the sclera (white) layer, (forming a filtration bubble). The surgical procedure is performed under local anesthesia and requires skilled surgical maneuvers. The main goal of trabeculectomy is to keep the drainage opening. In case this alternative pathway narrows again, a second surgery (retreatment) may be necessary.
What are the actual benefits of trabeculectomy procedure?
Undoubtedly, the primary goal of trabeculectomy surgery is to reduce intraocular pressure in an eye with glaucoma. If vision loss has already occurred due to glaucoma, trabeculectomy cannot restore or recover the lost vision (irreversible condition), but it can preserve the existing levels of vision and prevent further deterioration. Postoperatively, patients who have undergone trabeculectomy require close monitoring by their ophthalmologist.
Besides trabeculectomy, what other surgical methods are currently used to face glaucoma?
In addition to trabeculectomy, other successful techniques that are used today to treat glaucoma include the following:
Injection – Implantation of artificial valve mechanisms (glaucoma valves)
Placement of ophthalmic stent
Canaloplasty
Sclerectomy
Viscocanalostomy
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