Newport Eye Surgeon

Glaucoma Surgery

If you’re facing the prospect of glaucoma surgery, call us at Retina Associates of Orange County to discuss your options with a Newport Beach eye surgeon. Our acclaimed ophthalmologists are board certified and experienced vitreoretinal surgeons.

There are two main types of glaucoma surgery that an eye surgeon in Newport Beach may use. One is laser surgery in which a focused beam of high intensity light is used to make precise cuts. Another method of performing glaucoma eye surgery is incisional, or conventional surgery. In this type of surgery, a Newport Beach eye surgeon uses small surgical tools.

Conventional Eye Surgery

Many types of eye surgery, such as glaucoma, are done using conventional means. When drainage holes need to be made in order drain fluid, conventional, or incisional surgery, may be used to allow intraocular fluid to flow out of an artificial drainage pathway.

Laser surgery is not always effective in lowering eye pressure
If eye pressure rises again post-laser surgery, a Newport Beach eye surgeon may opt for follow-up conventional eye surgery
When needed, glaucoma surgery can safely be performed on the patient several more times in addition to the original surgery

Filtering Surgery

Filtering surgery is a type of conventional eye surgery that is sometimes used if laser surgery and medication does not sufficiently lower eye pressure. The procedure is known as a sclerostomy or trabeculectomy.

A very small hole is made in the white part of the eye, known as the sclera.
The hole allows fluid to drain from the eye. This in turn reduces pressure on the eye.
The procedure reduces or prevents damage to the optic nerve in the eye.

Painless Surgery

For most patients, conventional eye surgery is painless.

Intravenous sedation is often chosen for the anesthesia to numb the surgical areas.
Eye movement is prevented by the use of a local anesthetic and medication. This is injected behind or around the eye but done after intravenous sedation so that the patient does not feel it.

Glaucoma Surgery Success Rate

On average, during the one year period post-surgery, glaucoma filtering surgery is 70%-90% effective. Your Newport Beach eye surgeon can tell you if you’re a good candidate for surgery. When it’s ineffective, it’s usually because of these reasons:

The surgical hole may begin to close which increases pressure on the eye
The body may interpret the hole as an injury and try to close it, which most often happens among younger patients because their healing ability is stronger
Mitomycin-C and 5-FU, as well as other anti-wound healing drugs, can slow the healing process to keep the hole open for as long as possible
Sometimes it’s necessary to perform the surgery several times on the same eye

After the Surgery

Most of the time, filtering surgery is an outpatient procedure. For this reason, patients usually don’t have to stay in the hospital overnight following the surgery. Typically, an eye surgeon Newport Beach patients go to for this procedure will do a follow up exam within a few days after surgery.

Eye pressure will be checked
The doctor will look for any increase in inflammation
The doctor will check for any signs of infection

The eye must be kept dry for at least a week after the surgery. Strain on the eye must be avoided, which often means:

No driving
No heavy lifting
No bending
No reading

If you’re facing the prospect of eye surgery and would like to discuss your case with a Newport Beach eye surgeon, call Retina Associates of Orange County today to make an appointment. Our physicians are board certified ophthalmologists trained in vitreoretinal surgery. They specialize in diseases of the macula, retina, and vitreous.

Surgery can be a life-changing event, which is why it’s important to choose an eye surgeon in Newport Beach who is best for your needs. Our physicians and staff at Retina Associates of Orange County are patient-centered and focused on providing the utmost in visual care.

There are a number of eye diseases and issues that are common, but many people are not familiar with them. In advance of meeting with one a Newport Beach eye surgeon at Retina Associates of Orange County, here is some general information about common conditions.

Diabetic Retinopathy

When suffering from diabetes mellitus, the body does not use or store glucose properly. This can eventually damage the retina’s blood vessels. The retina is a nerve layer located at the back of the eye, which senses light and helps the brain process images.

Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy is very often referred to as “background retinopathy.” It’s an early stage of diabetic retinopathy. When it affects vision, it’s often the result of macular ischemia, macular edema, or both. This is a condition that a Newport Beach eye surgeon at Retina Associates of Orange County can diagnose.
Macular ischemia and edema. Laser treatment may help control vision loss, and newer treatments are under research for macular edema. Unfortunately, there are no known treatments available for macular ischemia.

Prolific Diabetic Retinopathy

Prolific Diabetic Retinopathy is caused by changes in the eye’s blood vessels, and is a complication from diabetes.

New blood vessels can be abnormal and grow on the retina’s surface. As a result, they do not supply the retina with the required amount of blood.
The new blood vessels can leak and result in a vitreous hemorrhage. Blood in the vitreous can block light rays from reaching the retina.
Even a small amount of blood can cause dark floaters to appear in the person’s vision. A large hemorrhage might prevent them from perceiving anything but light and dark.
The new blood vessels can cause scar tissue, which then shrinks. This causes stress on the retina, which results in distorted vision. The macula may detach and cause vision loss in the most severe cases.
Laser surgery can shrink the blood vessels to reduce the possibility of bleeding. This is much faster than relying on the body to absorb the blood, a process that can take years. An eye surgeon Newport Beach offers can perform the necessary laser surgery.
A Newport Beach eye surgeon can perform a retinal detachment. The ophthalmologists at Retina Associates of Orange County have many years of experience in performing this type of surgery.
A vitrectomy surgery can address a vitreous hemorrhage if a retinal detachment is detected.

Steps to Take to Minimize Risk

There are several things that can be done to minimize the risk of these diseases and eye conditions. They include:

Keeping up with regular eye exams. The only way to discover changes inside the eyes is through a medical eye exam.

For those with diabetes, early detection of diabetic retinopathy is best to help prevent vision loss.
Maintain strict control of blood glucose levels.
Visit an ophthalmologist regularly.

To meet with one of our ophthalmologists at Retina Associates of Orange County, call us today to make an appointment with a trusted Newport Beach eye surgeon.

If your doctor has recommended eye surgery, you may want to speak with a trusted eye surgeon for confirmation and another opinion. Our physicians on staff at Retina Associates of Orange County are some of the most respected surgeons in the country. Call us today to request an appointment with a Newport Beach eye surgeon who you can trust.

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