• The purpose of glaucoma surgery is to lower the IOP.
• By lowering the IOP, it is possible to preserve the vision in the majority of the cases. However, in rare cases, even after a successful operation in terms of lowering the IOP, the vision may still deteriorate.
• After glaucoma surgery, the patient may experience temporary blurred vision that may last up to 3-4 weeks, mainly due to the use of some eyedrops, and corneal sutures (stiches) that may lead to temporary refractive errors. Usually after this period, the vision returns to pre-operative levels.
• In many cases, surgery is effective in reducing the IOP to the desired target levels. However in some cases, additional medications may be needed to attain the target IOP. With time, the IOP may increase and more medications or another surgery may be needed again.
• Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic topical medications are usually needed for some time after the procedure.
• In the immediate postoperative period it is important that the patients restrain themselves from performing physical efforts.
• As in every surgical procedure, complications (mild or severe) may happen. Your ophthalmologist will discuss these with you.
• Due to all these possible complications, the indication for glaucoma surgery should be considered with caution, however, when it is needed it should not be delayed.