Surgical Solutions Giving New Hope to Glaucoma
Patients by Dr. Kamran
Massoumi
Published on: 05/20/2025
For millions living with glaucoma, the pressure to protect their vision is more than a metaphor it’s a daily reality. Surgery becomes the next critical step when medications and lasers can no longer manage the rising pressure inside the eye Glaucoma surgery has evolved significantly, offering patients a wider range of safer, more effective options, and tailored to individual needs, as suggested by Dr. Kamran Massoumi.
One of the most exciting advances in recent years is the rise of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, or MIGS These procedures are revolutionizing how glaucoma is treated MIGS techniques use microscopic tools and tiny incisions to help fluid drain more naturally from the eye, relieving pressure without the trauma of traditional surgery. Because of their gentle nature, these surgeries often result in quicker recovery, fewer complications, and improved patient comfort
Procedures like the iStent, Hydrus Microstent, and Xen Gel Stent are becoming more common, especially in patients with mild to moderate glaucoma. These devices are often inserted during cataract surgery, addressing two vision problems in one procedure For patients, that means fewer appointments, lower risk, and better vision outcomes
For advanced or complex cases, traditional surgeries like trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage devices may still be necessary Trabeculectomy, which creates a small opening in the eye to help fluid escape, remains highly effective but comes with a greater need for careful post-operative care Drainage implants, such as the Ahmed or Baerveldt devices, provide additional long-term control in patients whose glaucoma is more aggressive or unresponsive to other methods.
What’s changing most is how ophthalmologists approach surgical treatment not as a last resort, but as a strategic, earlier intervention With new technology and improved techniques, glaucoma surgery is nothing to fear but something to consider as part of a proactive care plan
Today, glaucoma patients have more choices and better chances of preserving their vision than ever before Thanks to these surgical innovations, what was once a slow march toward blindness is now a manageable journey supported by science, skill, and renewed optimism for the future of sight