Tips to Help Prepare You for Glaucoma Surgery
Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that damages the optic nerve. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to complete vision loss. While glaucoma has no cure, it can be managed with medication, surgery, or a combination.
If your ophthalmologist has recommended surgery, you may feel anxious about what to expect. Though it may seem daunting, glaucoma surgery is a relatively common and successful procedure. Here are five tips to help you prepare for glaucoma surgery.
Pre-operative Appointment with Our Ophthalmologist
Before your eye surgery, meeting with our ophthalmologist for a pre-operative appointment is important. Our doctor will review the procedure during this appointment, explain the risks and benefits, and answer any questions or concerns.
This is also a great time to discuss any medications or supplements, and what changes you must make before your eye surgery. By scheduling a pre-operative appointment, you can ensure our ophthalmologist has all the necessary information and resources to provide a successful glaucoma surgery.
Proper Arrangements for Your Drive
Before going into glaucoma surgery, having someone who can drive you home after the surgery is important. Generally, it is not recommended that patients drive themselves after the surgery, due to the risks of drowsiness while driving.
In case of any complications or issues, it is also important to have someone stay with you for up to 24 hours after surgery.
Follow Post-operative Instructions
Once the surgery is complete, there will be a post-operative care period. It's important to use all the medications or eye drops your ophthalmologist prescribed during this time and follow their post-operative directions.
Everything You Need for Post-operative Care
Before your glaucoma surgery, you must ensure all your prescriptions are filled before your surgery date. Generally, our ophthalmologist will provide pre-operative instructions for medications that must be started before the surgery, and those that should be discontinued or modified.
To ensure you have everything you need for your post-operative care, check your doctor’s instructions, and have them ready before the surgery.
Schedule an appointment with our glaucoma specialist at Monterey Bay Eye Center to ensure your surgery goes as smoothly as possible. In addition, through our eye disease management program, we can monitor your glaucoma condition to help detect new changes and symptoms. Contact us at 831.372.1500 for further clarification.