Whats the best treatment for glaucoma: surgery or medication?
Quality of life is an important factor in the treatment of any chronic ailment. It is important to make a decision as to whether you want to live with significant side effects. You should first consider whether there is a way to eliminate the side effects of the medications you are taking. Talking with your ophthalmologist is the best approach to identifying possible ways to resolve the problem of medication side effects. If you are still suffering from intolerable side effects, or if your glaucoma is uncontrolled, then surgery may be an option. Glaucoma surgery is safer and more effective than ever. Routine trabeculectomy for uncomplicated open-angle glaucoma, when performed as an initial surgical procedure in a patient who has not had previous intraocular surgery, is highly effective. The chance of complications or surgical failure increases with previous intraocular surgery, complicated glaucoma, having to redo the operation for glaucoma and severe near-sightedness.
