Glaucoma and cataracts are two eye conditions that increase in frequency with age, and it is not uncommon for a patient with glaucoma to develop cataracts over the years. Glaucoma (operated or unoperated) is not a contraindication for cataract surgery, and an operated cataract eye can be operated on after glaucoma surgery, if necessary. Only a reliable Eye Care Center in Green Bay WI should perform either type of surgery.
Getting treatment fast
When the two above conditions co-exist, even if glaucoma is balanced by the use of eye drops, it may be smart to operate on the patient simultaneously with an intervention called “combined ocular surgery.” In this way, in most cases, the patient will often no longer need eye drops to treat his or her glaucoma. If vision improves with cataract surgery, however, it must be noted that glaucoma-induced visual field defects will persist, which may sometimes limit the visual recovery provided by cataract surgery.
This combined procedure is carried out under the same technical conditions as cataract or glaucoma surgery by itself, under general or local anesthesia. It naturally requires a few more minutes for the surgeon to prepare and perform the surgery, but the complications are no more frequent than if the surgeries were performed one at a time.
Refractive surgery and glaucoma
Surgery for impaired vision (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia) – commonly known as refractive surgery – is a growing field. Refractive surgery cannot worsen glaucoma itself. However, the measurement of eye pressure can be disturbed by the anatomical changes of the cornea generated by refractive surgery (which, in particular, thins the center of the cornea).
The Eye Care Center in Green Bay WI should note the thickness of the cornea before and after the refractive surgery. This is so he, or she can correct the ocular pressure numbers received.
Children and glaucoma surgery
Congenital glaucoma is a rare condition, which commonly affects both eyes of the child who has it. It is common to have this type of glaucoma because eye pressure is usually high and reacts poorly to eye drops. Depending on the age of the patient, the severity and the particularities of glaucoma, the surgical techniques can vary and are sometimes different from those proposed in adults. Get more information here.
