Cataracts and Glaucoma — How Are They Connected?
According to the World Health Organization, of the 1 billion people in the world facing vision impairments and blindness, over 94 million of those have cataracts, making it the leading cause of blindness in the world. Cataract symptoms include the tell-tale cloudy eyes and reduced vision. Glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve when pressure in the eye becomes too high, remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness. These conditions impact most people as they get older, usually after age 60, and many people that develop cataracts also have glaucoma. Thanks to newer procedures, both conditions may be treated at the same time with less downtime and better results.
Can Cataract Surgery Treat Glaucoma?
Yes, cataract surgery can be used to treat glaucoma since it can lower intraocular pressure. Generally, cataract surgery is combined with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to treat patients with cataracts and mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma. While there are different types of MIGS, the goal is to remove the blockage in the eye that is preventing fluid from draining, which causes the increased pressure. This can be achieved by placing a stent or tube in the eye to direct drainage or physically removing the blockage. It’s important to note that while this surgery may help to lower the pressure in the eye or correct fluid flow, it may not provide strong enough treatment. Many patients must continue to take their glaucoma medications.
What to Expect: Combined Cataract + MIGS Surgery
When considering cataract and glaucoma surgery combined, patients must undergo pre-op evaluations and consultations with ophthalmologists to ensure they are healthy and the surgery will have the desired impact. The surgeon will perform a comprehensive exam to create a treatment plan that includes cataract surgery and the specific MIGS procedure.
The day of the procedure, you will be made comfortable for the operation, and the surgeon will start by making an incision in the cornea to access the lens. First, the cloudy cataract lens is broken up using phacoemulsification and traditional or premium lens implants (IOL) are inserted. Then, an MISG implant, usually a stent or drainage device is placed into the drainage channel to lower eye pressure. The incision is usually left open to heal and patients are given eyeglasses to wear and comprehensive cataract surgery recovery care instructions to follow.
Combining cataract and glaucoma surgery allows patients to benefit from one surgery, one recovery window, and improved pressure. Contact the OCLI Vision clinic nearest you to schedule a consultation today.
Am I a Candidate?
The combined surgery is perfect for patients:
- 40 years of age and older with a family history of glaucoma and cataracts
- A diagnosis of both conditions
- Currently taking glaucoma eye drops
- Visual cloudiness from cataract progression
Individuals with narrow-angle or closed-angle glaucoma may benefit from just cataract surgery alone, so it’s worth a consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist to determine the best course of action. If you think you would benefit from cataract surgery with MISG, contact the OCLI Vision office nearest you to schedule a consultation with an OCLI cataract specialist and learn more about the procedure and the cataract surgery cost.
FAQ
In some patients with narrow-angle or closed-angle glaucoma, which pushes the iris forward, cataract surgery alone may reduce the pressure in the eye enough that the patient does not require glaucoma surgery.
As with any surgery, there are risks, however, cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective eye surgeries performed around the world, so the risks are the same as most other surgeries. Risks include infections, stents becoming dislodged, abnormal eye pressure, and inflammation. It is important to contact your surgeon as soon as possible if you notice any severe or lasting complications.
Generally, most patients heal in two to four weeks with complete internal healing and vision adjustments taking up to eight weeks.