What to know about recovery after Glaucoma Treatment

If you’re wondering how long it takes to recover from glaucoma laser treatment or a glaucoma operation, then you’re in the right place. We’ve put this guide together to show you what you might expect, what aftercare can look like, and what you should look out for following your glaucoma treatment.  

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a name for a group of eye conditions that cause gradual damage to the optic nerve. This usually happens when fluid called aqueous humour builds up in your eye, which increases pressure and damages the optic nerve as a result. It usually affects both eyes, but one eye can sometimes be a bit worse than the other. Glaucoma doesn’t usually have symptoms, so many people don’t realise they actually have it until picked up on a routine eye test. Glaucoma can ultimately lead to loss of vision, so it’s crucial that the condition is managed appropriately. 

Types of Glaucoma Treatment

Vision loss from glaucoma can’t be restored, but there are numerous treatments to slow down the damage and prevent your vision from worsening. The treatment you'll be given depends on the type of glaucoma you have, as well as how your eyesight is affected.

Laser Treatment 

Laser treatment (selective laser trabeculoplasty, or SLT) is often carried out for patients with certain types of glaucoma. SLT involves using short pulses of light to help gently lower the pressure inside the eye. Doing so helps the fluid to flow out of the eye more easily. Recent studies and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have recommended using this type of laser treatment in early cases of glaucoma, and this could mean that you won’t need to use eye drops. 

In some cases of acute angle closure glaucoma, we also use a treatment known as YAG laser peripheral iridotomy. This involves your ophthalmologist using a laser to create a very small opening in the outer part of the iris (the coloured part of your eye), allowing fluid to move more freely within the eye. This lowers pressure and helps to protect your eyesight. 

Surgery 

Surgery is often recommended when medication and laser treatment haven’t been successful. There are many different types of surgical procedures for glaucoma, but the most common is called trabeculectomy. It involves creating a tiny opening in your eye (underneath the upper eyelid) to allow extra fluid to drain away and lower pressure. An increasingly common form of glaucoma surgery is MIGS, which stands for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. MIGS are a group of surgical procedures to treat glaucoma that use tiny devices and instruments to create smaller incisions. This reduces the risk of complications, and recovery is often faster compared to other glaucoma surgeries.

Medication

For many patients, using specialist eye drops may be the only treatment they need. These help to lower the pressure in your eye by allowing the fluid inside to drain more easily or by reducing the amount of fluid produced in the eye. You might need to try out a few different types to find the ones that work best for you, and it’s likely that you’d need to use eye drops for the rest of your life to help ensure your vision is protected. To make sure your eye pressure is under control, your vision is stable, and everything is working well, you’ll be asked to come back for regular check-ups with your ophthalmologist. 

What should I expect in the 48 hours after treatment?

After surgery and laser treatment, it’s normal to experience blurry vision in your eye, but this should improve over the coming days. How long you experience blurry vision for can depend on the type of treatment you get. The recovery period for laser treatment is often shorter compared to surgery. There could be other potential side effects, such as redness in the eye, irritation, and swelling, but these are usually normal and should resolve. Your ophthalmologist will explain what side effects you could experience and what to watch out for in the days and weeks after your treatment. 

Are there any activities I can't do after having Glaucoma Treatment?

You’ll be given specific instructions about which activities you shouldn’t do and how long for after both surgery and laser treatment. Some of these include: avoiding strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, bending, using eye make-up or face cream, and swimming. 

Will there be any discomfort after Glaucoma Treatment?

Straight after treatment, your eyes may feel irritated and sore, but this should subside. Your ophthalmologist will give you glaucoma treatment aftercare instructions, and it’s important to follow these (such as using eye drops) to minimise any discomfort post-treatment. Any pain is usually mild, and you should report any significant pain or discomfort to your ophthalmologist. 

Are there any aftercare options for Glaucoma Treatment?

You’ll be given glaucoma treatment aftercare instructions, tailored depending on the specific treatment you had. This can include:

• Eye protection: To prevent you from accidentally damaging and rubbing your eye.

• Medication: Eye drops help with the recovery process by reducing inflammation, minimising the risk of an infection, and managing eye pressure. These may be different eye drops from the ones you were prescribed before surgery. 

• Attend follow-up appointments: These help make sure that your recovery is on track, so it’s crucial to attend them. 

Common complications after Glaucoma Treatment & what you can do

Vision loss warning signs

Vision loss after glaucoma treatment could be due to a number of different complications. Look out for signs like halos around lights, eye discomfort, blind spots, and shadows in your vision, as these can be signs of complications and/or worsening vision. 

Scarring 

The body's natural healing response is to form scar tissue, which can sometimes occur after glaucoma surgery and result in treatment failure. Speak to your ophthalmologist, who can look at different options like bleb needling, which breaks up scar tissue. 

Infection

Some signs of infection or other complications can include worsening redness, discharge, severe pain, and decreasing vision. You should seek medical care immediately if you experience symptoms of an eye infection.

Explore NHS & Private Glaucoma Treatment with Newmedica 

We are a leading provider of private and NHS-funded Ophthalmology services, and we’re committed to helping people protect their eyesight. We understand that many patients feel anxious about their glaucoma treatment, but our personalised patient care will help you feel comfortable and at ease when you visit us. We’ll make sure to give you a warm welcome, hold your hand if you’re feeling nervous, and will be there for you throughout your time with us.