Did you know that over three million Americans suffer from Glaucoma? When left untreated, glaucoma can also lead to blindness. If the medications and drug therapies don’t work, one might have to undergo glaucoma surgery. There are essentially two types of surgeries that are done to help with glaucoma. One is laser treatment and the other is conventional microsurgery. It should be noted that glaucoma cannot be cured but it can be stabilized enough to not cause blindness. Let us have a closer look at glaucoma surgery recovery.
Glaucoma Laser Surgery Recovery
Doctors usually advise their patients to opt for this option instead of going for conventional microsurgery. However, the latter is a good option for cases when the eye pressure is too high and the optic nerve has been damaged. Patients can resume normal activities after their surgery is done. They are advised to avoid lifting, bending and straining for the next couple of weeks. Patients should also visit the doctor for regular checkups to ensure that everything is normal.
After the surgery, the eyes become red and teary. Patients can also experience blurry vision for the first month. However, there are certain risks involved in laser surgery. This might include an increase in intraocular pressure or even an excessive drop in pressure. Both of these complications can be countered with medicines. It should be noted that there are chances of cataract formation after surgery which is why one needs to be careful.
Glaucoma Conventional Surgery Recovery
This glaucoma surgery takes more time to recover than laser surgery. The patient can resume normal activities within two to four weeks. Nonetheless, it might take about a month or two for the vision to be stable. The success rate of this type of surgery is from 70% to 90%.
As mentioned before, it takes a relatively long time for the glaucoma conventional surgery recovery. Periodic checkups are advised for follow-ups. This helps the doctor in tracking the patient’s recovery status. When it comes to conventional surgery, the risks are very rare.
There can be some complication such as infection, pain, bleeding, and discomfort. It is important to note that these complications are significantly less important when compared to losing ones entire vision. If glaucoma is not treated it can also lead to blindness.
How to cope and live with glaucoma
As a patient of glaucoma, it is important to be always regular with your doctor appointments. It might seem like there is no point in seeing the doctor over and again but negligence can cause you to suffer later. Visit the doctor on a weekly or monthly basis until the condition is under control.
It is equally important to understand your condition and then work toward improving it. You can ask your doctor about any concerns that you might have. Doctors appreciate it when patients come up to them to clear their doubts. There is nothing to be ashamed of and you deserve to know the best practices in order to stay healthy.
Likewise, you are advised to stick to the medication just as prescribed. Create reminders for yourself so that it becomes easier to follow through the medications. When you fail to take medication, it increases the pressure on your eyes. As you know it can lead to blindness, there should not be any compromise with medicines. It is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines since some combinations are not advised.
Lastly, feel at ease and remember that you are not alone! Try and connect with others with the same condition to help you stay on the right track.
