Trabeculectomy in Rhode Island

A trabeculectomy is a glaucoma treatment in which a tiny hole is created in the eye wall for the drainage of excess fluid. The drainage hole is covered and protected by a thin, carefully created flap, or “trap door,” that the fluid can easily move past and into a small reservoir under the surface of the eye. As with most glaucoma surgeries, this promotion of drainage lowers the internal eye pressure, alleviating symptoms of glaucoma. The trabeculectomy has traditionally been considered one of the best and most effective treatments for the disease. At Koch Eye Associates, our experienced ophthalmologists have been performing successful glaucoma surgeries, including trabeculectomies, for many years, helping hundreds of Rhode Island patients.

If you think you or someone you know might be a candidate for a trabeculectomy, schedule a comprehensive glaucoma evaluation at one of our convenient locations in Johnston, North Kingstown, Wakefield, Warwick, or Woonsocket, RI.

A trabeculectomy is usually only recommended for glaucoma patients who have already unsuccessfully tried eye drops and laser surgeries. However, the procedure is often considered the best option for patients with open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma. To determine whether you are a good candidate for a trabeculectomy, you will need to be evaluated by an experienced ophthalmologist with Koch Eye Associates. The evaluation will include discussing any treatments you have already tried, the type and stage of your glaucoma, your overall health, and your everyday lifestyle.

Your trabeculectomy with Koch Eye Associates will be performed at the St. James Surgery Center in Warwick, RI. Trabeculectomies can be performed under local anesthesia or when necessary, general anesthesia. When performed with a local anesthetic only, the surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning you can return home the same day. Once you are as comfortable as possible from the anesthetic, the surgeon will place a device over your eye that will keep it still and keep you from blinking. Then a tiny opening, or hole, is created by removing tissue, and this hole is then covered with a thin flap of eye tissue for protection. The excess fluid inside your eye can then drain easily through the hole and past the flap. At the end of your procedure, the surgeon will administer antibiotic eye drops or injections and then tape the eye shut. You will also receive an eye patch to wear to ensure the eye is fully protected.

Most of our trabeculectomy patients are asked to return to Koch Eye Associates the day after their surgery for their first follow-up appointment. You will need to wear the tape and bandage for the first 24 hours after surgery, until your next-day follow-up. It is a good idea to wear your eye patch as much as possible, but you will be required to wear it at least to bed for about a month. You will probably be given a prescription for corticosteroid eye drops to use for around two months to control inflammation, and it is important that you avoid any strenuous activity, including exercising, bending, and lifting. These activities can increase pressure and strain on your eyes.

If you have glaucoma but have had unsuccessful results from medications or laser treatments, you may be a candidate for a trabeculectomy. Trabeculectomies have been considered the gold-standard treatment for glaucoma for many years, and Koch Eye Associates has the equipment and the experts to perform them with great success. Schedule your consultation at one of our Rhode Island facilities today so we can protect your vision and control the progression of your glaucoma.