Glaucoma Treatment in India

• The treatment cost for Glaucoma in India starts at USD 1200.
• The success rate for the treatment is between 70-90% for at least a year post-treatment.
• Some of the best hospitals in India for treatment include Spectra Eye, Center for Sight, and W Pratiksha Hospital. Highly recommended ophthalmologists include Dr. Suraj Munjal, Dr. Ritesh Narula, and Dr. Dheeraj Gupta.
• Patients typically require only one surgical sitting for Glaucoma treatment. However, it is recommended to stay in India for at least a week.
  
  

About Glaucoma Treatment

Vision-related concerns affect people of all ages worldwide. Glaucoma is a disorder that causes severe damage to the functioning of the eye and vision of the person. The optic nerve (the connection between the eye and the brain) is destroyed or severely challenged by the condition, and the person ends up losing complete or partial vision in the affected eye. Regrettably, the damage cannot be reversed and is permanent.

Types of Glaucoma and Intervention

• Primary open-angle glaucoma – Occurs when the eye’s drainage system fails, causing pressure to increase within the eyeball. This is the most common type of chronic glaucoma that affects the optic nerve. Doctors recommend eye drops to reduce eye pressure.
• Primary angle-closure glaucoma – More prevalent in people above 40, this glaucoma is caused by displacement in the iris and shift in the eyeball pressure. Intravenous injections and intensive usage of eye drops are recommended to prevent further damage. LASIK may also be recommended.
• Secondary glaucoma – This type of glaucoma can either be open-angle or close angle and is caused by secondary factors that need to be diagnosed. Immediate treatment is recommended to manage symptoms and reduce eye pressure.
• Developmental glaucoma – While glaucoma is usually uncommon in children below the age of 50, when the disease affects a child, it is termed developmental glaucoma. The treatment remains the same – reducing the pressure inside the eye through eye drops and surgery.

Risks Associated with Glaucoma Treatment

Treatment for glaucoma begins as soon as symptoms become noticeable. Doctors may initially prescribe eye drops to reduce pressure and prevent further damage to the optic nerve, but eventually, patients may require surgery, either through LASIK or incision-based microsurgery. There are some risks associated with the treatment, such as irritation and inflammation in the eyes or loss of vision due to the disease. Complications may also occur due to surgery, such as bleeding inside the eyeball, infections, and rising pressure.

Before Treatment

Patients must undergo several diagnostic tests before treatment procedures. These tests include:

• Tonometry test- Assess inner eye pressure.
• Slit-lamp examination- Evaluates the eyes through a bright slit 3-D viewing light.
• Ophthalmoscopy- Assess the color, shape, and other features of the optic nerve, and the damage that has been caused.
• Perimetry (Visual field test)- Tests the field of vision to gauge the damage.
• Pachymetry- Assess the structure and thickness of the cornea and potential damage.
• Gonioscopy- Assess the angle of Iris and the type of glaucoma.
  
  

During Treatment

• Eye Drops – Neutralize the rising pressure in the affected eye by reducing the formation of the aqueous medium. This is the first step in treatment to prevent or minimize damage to the optic nerve, thereby avoiding blindness.
• Laser Surgery – Helps to change the outflow of the aqueous medium fluid and maintain a healthy balance. Three types of laser surgery that doctors may recommend include: Trabeculoplasty- Removing the trabecular mesh from the eye to increase the outflow. Iridotomy- Making a small hole on the iris to ease the outflow of fluid. Cyclophotocoagulation- Directing laser towards the middle of the eye to reduce the flow.
• Microsurgery/trabeculectomy – Induces drainage when the eye’s drainage systems fail. An incision is made as part of the surgery to reduce intraocular pressure.

Post Treatment

• If the patient is receiving treatment through eye drops, the surgeon will assess the impact and advise the patient not to engage in any strenuous activity. The side effects may include an allergy to the eye drops, temporary blurriness, redness, and a close check is maintained through regular checkups on the damage it causes to the heart and the lungs.
• After laser surgery, the patient leaves with eye pads, and doctors recommend continuous monitoring of the healing process. There may be inflammation of the eye, and there’s a risk of infection.
• After microsurgery, the patient is monitored thoroughly, with a prescription of antibacterial medication and adequate information about common side effects that include infection, bleeding, and temporary loss of vision.
  
  

Factors Affecting Treatment Cost of Glaucoma

• Severity of the disease – The cost of treating glaucoma increases with the severity of the disease. Patients having more than three changes in a year in their glaucoma drug therapy cost five times more than patients requiring no such adjustment.
• Type of disease in Glaucoma – Treatment of ocular hypertension is cheaper than open-angle glaucoma.
• Hospital – Glaucoma care in an academic hospital is more costly than in a general hospital.
• Surgical interventions and changing therapy may drive costs, but medication and physician visits and examination have been identified as the aspects of glaucoma disease that contribute most to total costs.