ALL ABOUT GLAUCOMA SURGERY: TRABECULECTOMY & SCLERECTOMY
The greatest benefit of glaucoma surgery is the normalization of intraocular pressure. If it is not controlled, the patient could experience a progressive and irreversible loss of vision.
Trabeculectomy or deep sclerectomy are the most common surgical options. Both are highly effective, safe, and outpatient procedures.
WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is a chronic and progressive deterioration of the optic nerve that can cause vision loss and blindness.
The optic nerve is made up of nerve fibers at the back of the eye that carry visual signals from the retina to the brain, where we interpret them as images.
Glaucoma is mainly caused by a build-up of pressure in the eye when fluid can’t drain properly. This increase in pressure is what damages the optic nerve. Indeed, this disease is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Many risk factors have been described for glaucoma’s development, including age (over age 60), genetic predisposition, ethnicity (Hispanic), high blood pressure, diabetes, short-sightedness, and long-sightedness.
A previous eye injury can also result in getting this disease.

Medically reviewed by Dr Osama Bahsas Zaky
Written by Joaquín Pineda
Updated on October 19, 2021