Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS)in Indore

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) are surgical techniques to treat glaucoma, a condition where the intraocular eye pressure (pressure inside your eyeballs) is increased significantly. It is a serious condition that leads to blindness as it progresses and cannot be completely cured. 
MIGS not only consist of surgical techniques but also of tiny devices and stents that are inserted into the eyeball to help reduce intraocular pressure. MIGS is a new ray of hope in glaucoma treatment. They offer the patients quick surgery, minimal chances of complications, and faster recovery while keeping the option of a future traditionally invasive surgery open.

Glaucoma is a serious condition of the eyes. It is known as a “Silent Killer” because it produces no symptoms at the onset but progressively worsens. By the time you start seeing symptoms, it is very late. Glaucoma causes blindness in the end. There is no cure for glaucoma. The only option is to control the rise in the intraocular pressure, i.e., the pressure in your eyeballs.

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, or MIGS, offer surgical relief from glaucoma. They are surgical techniques and devices used to control intraocular pressure. MIGS are quick procedures with a faster recovery time. Since they are minimally invasive, the tiny incisions and microscopic devices ensure few complications compared to traditional procedures to reduce intraocular pressure, like trabeculectomy.

Minimally invasive surgeries are the latest development in the field of glaucoma treatment. They offer hope to patients through quick and effective surgeries with a faster recovery time and minimal risks. These surgeries are suitable if:

1. You suffer from glaucoma that is not controlled by medication
2. Your body is not able to tolerate the glaucoma medications
3. Your glaucoma is worsening even with medications
4. The intraocular pressure has not shown signs of reduction even after traditional surgeries like trabeculoplasty
5. You suffer from secondary glaucomas like pigmentary glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

MIGS are done as an outpatient procedure. You can go home the same day. Before the surgery, there will be a few preparatory steps. Let us look at what they are.

• A detailed medical and ocular history will be taken. You have to inform your surgeon: 
  • If you have any medical condition
  • The medications you are taking, including herbs and supplements
  • Allergies to medications, if any.
• The procedure that has been chosen will be explained in detail, along with the benefits and risks involved. You will be asked to sign an informed consent form to go ahead with the procedure.
• You will be advised to undergo several medical tests. The tests include-
  • Gonioscopic examination of the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye
  • Intraocular pressure management to record the baseline intraocular pressure.
  • Central corneal thickness
  • Optic nerve evaluation
  • Visual field testing
• You may also be given certain medications before the surgery. 
  • Intraocular pressure lowering agents help decrease the possibility of a spike in the intraocular pressure in the postoperative period.
  • Antibiotic drops to reduce the chances of infection
  • Eye Drops to reduce inflammation after the surgery
• You will be asked to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure as you may be drowsy due to the anesthesia given during the procedure.

Minimally invasive surgeries are quick surgeries that are performed as outpatient procedures. These surgeries are completed in 10 to 15 minutes. Here is what happens during MIGS.

• You will be administered antibiotic eye drops before the surgery.
• Topical anesthetics will numb the eye and the surrounding area so that no pain will be felt.
• The next part of the surgery depends on the type of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery chosen. For example, in trabectome and AbInterno canaloplasty surgeries, a special device resembling a cannula is inserted into the eyes, whereas a tiny stent is inserted into the natural drainage channel of the eye in iStent and Cypass micro stent surgeries.
• Once the surgery is done, eye drops to reduce the swelling and redness will be administered.
• Your intraocular pressure will be checked after an hour. If the readings are within normal limits, you will be sent home with instructions on post-operative care.

Since it is a laser procedure, it takes only a few minutes to complete. 

• You may feel slight pain and pricking in the eyes due to the effects of the laser
• Slight redness and burning may be experienced
• Your vision may be blurry for a couple of hours after the surgery
• Take care not to rub your eyes or expose them to bright light

It will take 2 to 3 weeks to recover fully from minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries. This is much quicker than the 2 to 3 months you would take to recover from traditional glaucoma surgeries.

Glaucoma is the result of the rise in intraocular pressure. The steady rise over the years can lead to blindness. Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries keep the pressure within the eyeballs under check by working on the free flow of the aqueous humor. These surgeries are highly effective when compared to traditional surgeries. But no surgery is completely risk-free. Let us see the pros and cons of MIGS.

• Benefits of MIGS
  • Less time-consuming (done as an outpatient procedure)
  • Downtime is very minimal
  • Recovery is faster compared to traditional glaucoma surgeries
  • High efficiency and success rates
• Risks of MIGS
  • Bleeding in the eye
  • Corneal infection
  • Spike in the intraocular pressure following surgery
  • Visual disturbances such as blurred vision or double vision

Surgery can be a daunting aspect, and feeling anxious is absolutely normal. The massive amount of information you can get from the internet may confuse you even more. This is where Medfin can help. Leave us the hefty task of finding the best hospital, the finest doctor, and the latest procedure at the lowest cost. Let us take charge while you sit back and focus on your health and recovery. Think surgery! Think Medfin!