ANSWER:
This depends upon how severe the glaucoma is and what the “target IOP” might be. Canaloplasty alone can generally get the IOP into the teens. For many people this is acceptable. For others who need IOPs in the single digits (<10mmHg) canaloplasty alone is unlikely to achieve that goal without additional drops. Although trabeculectomy may be more likely to achieve IOPs below 10mmHg without drops, “trab” surgery also has a higher risk of resulting in an IOP that is too low (<5mmHg) especially in myopes. Keep in mind that no surgery is guaranteed to achieve a given IOP. I follow plenty of patients who have had trabeculectomy surgery who still need drops to adequately control their eye pressures.
Warm regards,
David Richardson, MD
Patient-Focused Ophthalmologist
San Marino Eye
2020 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
626.289.7856
Patient-Focused Websites:
New-Glaucoma-Treatments.com
About-Eyes.com
Date: Jul 5, 2013
Posted in: Glaucoma