Glaucoma Treatment in Cape Town

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects one’s peripheral vision. It is typically due to an intra-ocular pressure that is too high for the eye. This results in a pressure build-up on the optic nerve causing damage to the nerve fibres which ultimately results in poor peripheral vision or “tunnel vision”. Fortunately, if glaucoma is diagnosed and treated early, loss of vision can be prevented. Early Glaucoma Treatment in Cape Town is vital.

Glaucoma can be treated medically with eye drops, laser procedures as well as surgery. Dr Vayanos is very experienced in the medical management of glaucoma as well as glaucoma surgery, for more advanced stages of disease.

There are 2 main types of glaucoma:

• Open angle: This is the most common form of the disease where the drainage system of the eyes (trabecular meshwork) malfunctions. Most patients with this form of glaucoma do not have symptoms, that is why glaucoma screening is so important.
• Closed angle: This is a rarer type of glaucoma that occurs when the drainage angle between the iris and cornea is too narrow and can close completely leading to a sight-threatening emergency – an attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma.

It is crucial to diagnose and treat glaucoma in its early stages to prevent irreversible blindness. Dr Vayanos is a specialist ophthalmologist that can help you treat and manage your glaucoma in Cape Town, to prevent loss of vision.

Patients in the early stages of glaucoma can be treated medically with prescription eye drops. These drops are designed to decrease the production of fluid in the eye and facilitate outflow of fluid from the eye, thus lowering the eye pressure. High eye pressure is the major risk factor for optic nerve damage.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty or (SLT) is a well-tolerated, in-room procedure performed on patients with open-angle glaucoma. SLT laser is performed as a stand-alone primary glaucoma treatment, or it is used in conjunction with glaucoma eye drops if they are not lowering the eye pressure enough. It is safe, well tolerated, and can be repeated

• SLT is a therapy and not a surgical treatment – it is gentle, does not destroy tissue, and can be repeated.
• The drainage tissue in your eye is targeted and undergoes a chemical and biological change which results in a lowered intraocular pressure.
• It creates “a sieve effect” to allow the fluid to drain from the eye more effectively.
• This effect takes 6 weeks at which stage your eye pressure will be checked.

• There is minimal risk associated with SLT laser, but one may expect mild inflammation and in rare instances, a spike in eye pressure on the day of the procedure.
• This is pre-empted with the routine prescription of an anti-inflammatory eye drop and medication to prevent a raised eye pressure reaction.

In cases where laser treatment or medications do not control your eye pressure, Dr Vayanos will recommend a glaucoma operation in Cape Town. This surgery is recommended for patients who are in advanced stages of glaucoma, who do not use their eye drops regularly, or who develop glaucoma at a young age and are at risk of aggressive disease.

There are various types of glaucoma surgery:

• Trabeculectomy – a fistula/valve is created to increase drainage of fluid from the eye thus lowering the eye pressure.
• Glaucoma drainage stents – Ahmed valve, Paul glaucoma implant, Express valve
• Microstents: minimally invasive glaucoma surgery – I-stent, Xen implant Microstents can be inserted in the early stages of disease, to avoid the need for eye drops/ laser treatment, especially if undergoing cataract surgery.

Dr Vayanos will recommend the type of glaucoma surgery in Cape Town best suited to your needs. After your glaucoma surgery you may experience blurred vision and watery,red eyes but your vision should return to normal after a few weeks. Dr Vayanos will advise you on what activities you can and cannot perform after your surgery.

Dr Vayanos is a general Ophthalmologist in full-time private practice at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Private hospital in the centre of Cape Town, South Africa. One of her areas of expertise includes the treatment of glaucoma and glaucoma surgery. Her practice is equipped with the latest technology allowing her to give you personalised, high quality eye care with surgical precision. If you have a family history of glaucoma and at risk or existing disease, contact Dr Marianthy Vayanos for an appointment.