Trabeculectomy in Massachusetts & Rhode Island

A trabeculectomy, considered the gold standard in glaucoma surgery to some, is a highly effective surgery that lowers intraocular pressure by making a small hole in the eye wall that is covered and protected by a carefully created thin "trapdoor." The fluid that was caught inside is able to drain through the trapdoor to a small reservoir just under the surface of the eye. This procedure reduces pressure and slows the progression of vision loss in patients with glaucoma.

If you would like to find out if a trabeculectomy will work for you, please schedule a consultation at our Middletown, RI or Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, or Taunton, MA location. The skilled team of surgeons at Eye Health Vision Centers have performed hundreds of successful glaucoma surgeries, helping many South Coast-area patients to take back their lives while fighting against glaucoma.

During a consultation at one of our greater South Coast facilities, you will meet with an experienced ophthalmologist who will take into account your lifestyle, the stage and type of glaucoma you are experiencing, and the treatment methods you have already attempted (if any). These factors will help our team determine your candidacy for trabeculectomy. Generally speaking, this procedure is reserved for patients who have attempted eye drops and laser treatment without success. Trabeculectomy is commonly used as the first line of defense against open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma.

Your trabeculectomy may be performed at our Dartmouth, MA location or at the New Bedford Surgicenter with local anesthesia or, in some cases, under general anesthesia. The surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure with most patients returning home the same day. During the procedure, a piece of tissue within the eye is removed, creating an opening. The opening is then partially covered with a flap of eye tissue to create a trapdoor through which fluid can travel. Antibiotics may be applied to the eye and injected under the lining of the eye at the end of the surgery as a preventive measure. Your eye will be taped shut and a patch will be placed over the eye to shield it from disturbance.

The tape and bandage placed on the eye will need to be worn for the first 24 hours after surgery and the eye patch at bedtime for up to a month. Your surgeon will likely prescribe a corticosteroid medicine to be administered to the eyes for up to two months after surgery to control inflammation during healing. Most patients will return to Eye Health Vision Centers for a follow-up visit the day after surgery. For several weeks while your eye heals, you will need to avoid any activities that could jar or strain your eyes. This may include bending, lifting, and certain exercises.

Trabeculectomy has a long-standing history as an effective option for the treatment of glaucoma. Eye Health Vision Centers is equipped to diagnose and treat the varying types and stages of glaucoma to protect your sight and slow the progression of the disease, giving you a higher quality of life. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma and have attempted other treatment methods without success, contact one of our greater South Coast facilities today to schedule your consultation. We look forward to exceeding your expectations.