The Latest Advances in Glaucoma Treatment and Surgery

It’s always exciting to find out what advances have been made in the healthcare industry. Over the years, these advancements have allowed people to recover from or prevent diseases that used to have no cure.

People often hear about the latest technology and advances in the general medical field, but don’t always hear the latest news pertaining to the eye care industry. Have there been any advances, particularly with a disease like glaucoma? Boulder patients should be very excited because there have been some recent improvements in this field.

A History of Glaucoma Treatment and Surgical Advances

The very first glaucoma surgery took place in 1856. The goal was to find a way to reduce intraocular pressure, as this is the number one contributing cause of the disease. Eye surgeons have been able to reduce the eye pressure by adjusting the aqueous drainage passages. In some instances, they would have to destroy the ciliary body.

The goal of a surgeon is to not only address the main issue or disease—in this case, glaucoma—while at the same time doing their best to unnecessarily damage the body. That is why those in research and development have continued to look for ways to treat glaucoma without having to destroy any parts of the eye.

In the mid-1990s, prostaglandin analogue medications gained in popularity. As their use rose, the number of glaucoma surgeries decreased, including argon laser trabeculoplasty. In the year 2000, another type of surgery was developed called selective trabeculoplasty. The development and implementation of this surgery was exciting because it was proven to be less destructive than the older surgical method of argon laser trabeculoplasty.

The goal of researchers and surgeons has been to get away from doing trabeculoplasty procedures. While advancements have helped surgeons cause less damage to the eye, a trabeculoplasty still causes more damage than most surgeons are comfortable with. In the past decade and a half, clinical trials have been set up to determine the best course of action.

During this time, researchers have found certain procedures or devices—including cataract surgery, iStents and micro snorkels, and a procedure called endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP), in which the surgeon coagulates parts of the ciliary body—have proven to be as effective as a traditional trabeculoplasty.

What Is Next? The Future of Glaucoma Treatments

There are two new surgical procedures that eye surgeons are particularly excited about.

•       Canaloplasty: A microcatheter is placed in the drainage passages to enlarge them and promote proper aqueous flow.

•       Trabectome Surgery: This is a minimally invasive, out-patient surgery. An electrosurgical handpiece is used to put a small opening into the drainage passages, again to improve aqueous flow.

Continued Developments in Treatment for Glaucoma: A Boulder Patient’s Hope