Glaucoma Surgery Options: Preserving Your Vision in Chicago, IL

Here's an overview of the advanced surgical approaches we offer:

Enhancing the Eye's Natural Drainage: Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) represents a significant advancement in glaucoma care, offering a less invasive option to improve the eye's inherent drainage system. These procedures are designed to enhance the outflow of fluid from the eye, thereby reducing pressure.

• How it Works: MIGS procedures often involve placing microscopic stents or making tiny alterations to the eye's drainage pathways. This helps fluid flow more efficiently through the natural channels.
• Flexibility: Many MIGS procedures can be performed in conjunction with cataract surgery, allowing for a combined approach to eye health. Some are also effective as standalone procedures.
• Personalized Approach: The optimal MIGS option for you depends on the specific type and severity of your glaucoma, as well as your overall eye health.

Creating New Drainage Pathways: Trabeculectomy, XEN Gel Stent, and Drainage Implants

For cases where the natural drainage system is significantly compromised, our specialists can create new routes for fluid to exit the eye. These procedures are highly effective in achieving substantial pressure reduction.

• Trabeculectomy: This is a time-tested surgical technique that creates a new, controlled pathway for fluid to drain from the eye. A small, carefully constructed flap is made in the sclera (the white wall of the eye), allowing fluid to filter into a tiny collection area (bleb) beneath the eyelid, where it's absorbed by the body. Anti-scarring medications are often used during and after the procedure to help maintain the long-term patency of this new pathway.

• XEN® Gel Stent: This innovative, minimally invasive option involves implanting a tiny, soft tube – thinner than an eyelash – to create a new drainage channel. The stent redirects fluid to an external reservoir beneath the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye), where it's absorbed. Like trabeculectomy, anti-scarring medications are frequently used to optimize outcomes.

• Glaucoma Drainage Implants (Tube Shunts): For more complex or advanced cases, or when other surgeries haven't been successful, drainage implants (often called "tube shunts") may be recommended. These devices, which can be valved or non-valved, consist of a small tube connected to a plate that is carefully placed in the eye. The tube directs fluid to the plate, creating a reservoir where the fluid can be slowly absorbed. A patch graft typically covers the tube portion to ensure comfort and protection, and the implant is generally not visible once healed.