What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a common condition that affects around half a million people in England. It causes damage to the nerve behind the eye (the optic nerve) that carries visual signals to the brain. Left untreated it can lead to severe visual loss or even blindness. This damage is caused by the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure). This pressure inside the eye is caused by the buildup of fluid (the aqueous) inside the eye. Aqueous builds up due to blockade of draining channels or occasionally due to a narrow door from where the fluid leaves the inside of the eye.

What is a trabeculectomy 
A trabeculectomy is an operation to decrease the pressure inside the eye. The surgeon creates a new channel through the white of the eye (sclera), to allow excess aqueous humour (fluid inside the eye) to escape, thereby reducing the pressure in the eye. The fluid does not leave the eye completely, but will form a small blister-like swelling on the white surface of the eye, usually underneath the eyelid where normally you cannot see it. The fluid can then be reabsorbed back into the blood stream, and does not come onto the surface of your eye. This small blister structure is also known as the drainage ‘bleb’, and should permanently remain on the eye’s surface.

Why do I need to have a trabeculectomy operation?

Your eye surgeon may recommend a trabeculectomy operation because:

• medical treatments (drops) have not controlled your condition properly; and/or
• drop treatment is unsuitable.

A trabeculectomy is carried out to reduce the pressure inside your eye and preserve the sight you have. It will not restore any sight you may have lost or improve your sight, but aims to prevent further loss of vision. In some patients we need to use a special medication around the incision site to reduce scarring and ensure the channel does not close too soon after the surgery. Injections of this may need to be repeated after your operation.

Midland Eye is a specialist eye clinic led by the UK’s leading ophthalmology consultant doctors. As a world-class centre of excellence for eye surgery, we focus entirely on the treatment and care of patients with a wide range of eye problems, from common complaints to rare conditions that require treatment not available elsewhere in the UK. Our ophthalmic surgeons are renowned throughout the UK and worldwide for their expertise, knowledge and experience.

We offer an all-inclusive self-pay package for trabeculectomy surgery starting from £2200 (terms and conditions apply). For more information, please call our self-pay advisers on 0121 711 2020.