This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
For glaucoma to be a surgical disease, ‘we need a better operation’
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
NEW YORK — Glaucoma should be considered a “surgical disease” more often, according to one physician. But for this to happen, better glaucoma surgical options are needed.
Lack of patient compliance and the costs of taking topical glaucoma medications are good reasons why surgery should be considered more often as an option in treating glaucoma patients, according to Reay H. Brown, MD. He spoke on the topic here at the Ocular Surgery News Symposium on Cataract, Glaucoma and Refractive Surgery.
However, Dr. Brown said, most current surgical procedures involve too many risks to be performed more routinely early in the disease course. Additionally, Dr. Brown said, at 5 years postop the success rate of most glaucoma surgical procedures ranges from 40% to 75%. There is also continuing risk of infection, hypotony and failure.
The advantages of newer medical therapies include fewer side effects and the ease of explaining the treatment to patients. But Dr. Brown said the disadvantages include patient discomfort, cost, lack of compliance and poor long-term efficacy.
Dr. Brown said that “hopefully, new surgical technologies” will soon present better treatment options for patients.