Best Glaucoma Surgeons Fort Myers

If you have glaucoma, medications can be used early on to reduce the internal eye pressure that characterizes this condition. However, you may eventually need surgery, and if so, the best glaucoma surgeons are in Fort Myers at Elmquist Eye Group.

Why do I need surgery?

Glaucoma has no symptoms. People cannot feel the pressure buildup inside the eye. Over time, the increased pressure damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. Once any vision loss has occurred, we can’t restore what is lost, but we can prevent further loss of vision.

There are two surgeries we perform, both designed to reduce the internal eye pressure.

We typically recommend a surgery called laser trabeculoplasty for most of our patients. Our board-certified surgeons perform this low-risk procedure right in the office. Trabeculoplasty is designed to perform a one-time draining of the internal eye fluid buildup to lower intraocular pressure.

This procedure is very effective for the majority of patients, but some of our patients are not good candidates for trabeculoplasty and some don’t have success with this procedure. In these cases, we perform the more traditional form of glaucoma surgery. The surgeon creates a new opening for the eye fluid to continuously drain to keep the internal eye pressure down over an extended period of time.

What are the side effects of the surgery?

Both surgeries are very low risk. The eye may be sore and swollen for a few days, but that is expected in any surgery as the body heals. Some patients who have the conventional surgery develop an infection, but using the antibiotic eye drops as prescribed minimizes this risk. Some patients who have the conventional surgery are at a slightly higher risk of developing cataracts later in life.

Will I need surgery again?

The laser trabeculectomy is effective in 60 to 80 percent of patients who have the procedure. This is widely published in the scientific literature. The traditional glaucoma surgery is also very effective, but some patients do experience a closure of the opening the surgeon created, and therefore have to have the surgery again.

After your first surgery, regular checkups are very important so that the surgeon can monitor your condition and your glaucoma. We will regularly test for eye pressure and make any necessary adjustments in your care and treatment plan.

What is recovery like?

After surgery, you will use several eye drops designed to reduce swelling and prevent infection. These are different medications than the glaucoma eye drops you may have been using.

For a few weeks after surgery, patients are instructed to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise, anything that may put undue pressure on the eyes. We will have you come in for regular checkups to determine your progress and make sure your eye is healing well.

Talk it over with us

There are pros and cons to every surgery. Come in and we will talk it over. At Elmquist Eye Group, you will find the best glaucoma surgeons in Fort Myers. Together, we will work on a treatment plan that is right for you, so give us a call today.