Glaucoma Surgery in India

Glaucoma is a term for a group of eye disorders which result in damage to the optic nerve. This is most often due to increased pressure in the eye.The disorders can be roughly divided into two main categories: "open-angle" and "closed-angle" (or "angle closure") glaucoma.

Open-angle chronic glaucoma is painless, tends to develop slowly over time and often has no symptoms until the disease has progressed significantly. It is treated with either glaucoma medication to lower the pressure, or with various pressure-reducing glaucoma surgeries. Closed-angle glaucoma, however, is characterized by sudden eye pain, redness, nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms resulting from a sudden spike in intraocular pressure, and is treated as a medical emergency.

Glaucoma is an umbrella term for eye conditions which damage the optic nerve, and which can lead to a loss of vision.The main cause of damage to the optic nerve is intraocular pressure (IOP), excessive fluid pressure within the eye, which can be due to various reasons including blockage of drainage ducts, and narrowing or closure of the angle between the iris and cornea.

Open-angle glaucoma is painless and does not have acute attacks, thus the lack of clear symptoms make screening via regular eye checkups important. The only signs are gradually progressive visual field loss, and optic nerve changes (increased cup-to-disc ratio on fundoscopic examination).

Both laser and conventional surgeries are performed to treat glaucoma. Surgery is the primary therapy for those with congenital glaucoma.Generally, these operations are a temporary solution, as there is not yet a cure for glaucoma.