Protect your precious sight with glaucoma treatment in Brisbane
Discover how our personalised glaucoma treatments aim to prevent vision loss
Regain control of your life
Join thousands of Queenslanders in taking charge of their glaucoma and vision
Save your sight
Take the steps to ensure that your glaucoma has been detected and is managed at an early stage to preserve your vision over the long term.
Conquer your challenges
It’s important to us that our patients feel relieved and reassured, knowing that there is an expert at hand to provide them with support when they need it.
Enjoy all that life has to offer
By proactively taking steps to protect your vision, we hope you will be able to enjoy your favourite hobbies and pastimes again.
Get your life back on track
After treatment, many patients feel as good as new. Their friends, family, and work colleagues are so pleased to see them looking happy and healthy again. Hopefully, you’ll look back on what was a challenging time in your life and feel proud knowing that they’ve come back stronger than before.
Save your sight
Take the steps to ensure that your glaucoma has been detected and is being managed at an early stage, and to preserve your vision over the long-term.
Conquer your challenges
It’s important to us that our patients feel relieved and reassured, knowing that their eye condition is being controlled and that there is an expert at hand providing you with support.
Enjoy all that life has to offer
Enjoy your favourite hobbies and pastimes again, knowing that you have proactively taken steps to maintain your vision.
Get your life back on track
After treatment, our patients feel as good as new. Their friends, family and work colleagues are so pleased to see them looking happy and healthy again. You’ll look back on what was a very difficult time in life and feel proud knowing that they’ve come back stronger than before.
Take the first step to save your eyesight from glaucoma
Book a consultation, and one of our Brisbane eye experts will guide you towards the most suitable glaucoma treatment for your unique situation so you can take back control of your life
We provide a range of glaucoma treatments to maintain your sight
In this video, Dr. Judy Ku explains the different types of glaucoma treatment
Useful information about glaucoma treatment in Brisbane
Suitability criteria
There are many types of glaucoma, including but not limited to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), narrow-angle glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma. If you have any one of these, you may be eligible for glaucoma treatment as prescribed by your ophthalmologist.
To ensure you are suitable for glaucoma treatment, we will need to review your medical history and conduct a comprehensive eye examination.
How glaucoma treatment works
The damage caused by glaucoma is not reversible. But early treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if the disease is detected in its early stages.1Mayoclinic.org. 2021. Glaucoma – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372846#:~:text=The%20damage%20caused%20by%20glaucoma,eye%20pressure%20(intraocular%20pressure).> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
Glaucoma is treated by lowering the eye pressure (intraocular pressure). Depending on the type of glaucoma, your options may include prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of these.
Open-angle glaucoma
To treat open-angle glaucoma, we may use one or more of the following treatments:
- Medicines: Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment. They lower the pressure in your eye and prevent damage to your optic nerve.
- Laser treatment: To lower pressure in your eye, we can use lasers to help the fluid drain out of your eye. It’s a simple procedure that we can do in the clinic.
- Surgery: If medicines and laser treatment don’t work, we might suggest surgery. There are several different types of surgery that can help the fluid drain out of the eye.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Acute angle-closure glaucoma requires urgent treatment to reduce the pressure in your eye. This typically requires both medication and iridotomy laser, or a surgical procedure.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Drugs, laser, and surgery can all be very successful in treating glaucoma if the disease is caught at an early stage and you are compliant with both your treatment and follow-ups.2Utswmed.org. 2021. New glaucoma therapies improve results and reduce recovery time | Eyes and Vision | UT Southwestern Medical Center. [online] Available at: <https://utswmed.org/medblog/new-treatments-for-glaucoma/> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
Disadvantages
- Treatments can only stabilise glaucoma; they cannot reverse any vision loss so you will need to see your doctor for frequent follow-up exams3Glaucoma Research Foundation. 2021. Can Glaucoma Be Cured?. [online] Available at: <https://www.glaucoma.org/research/can-glaucoma-be-cured.php> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
- Eye drops and oral medications can cause a wide range of side effects, including but not limited to irritated and/or red eyes and low blood pressure.4Glaucoma Research Foundation. 2021. Glaucoma Medications and their Side Effects. [online] Available at: <https://www.glaucoma.org/gleams/glaucoma-medications-and-their-side-effects.php> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
Glaucoma treatment risks
As with any operation, there are risks associated with glaucoma surgery. It’s important to note, however, that surgery has very high success rates in substantially slowing the progression of glaucoma.5BrightFocus Foundation. 2021. Glaucoma Surgery Series: The Risks and Benefits of Glaucoma Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/glaucoma-surgery-series-risks-and-benefits-glaucoma-surgery> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
When it comes to surgical intervention for advanced glaucoma cases, the benefits typically outweigh the risks.6BrightFocus Foundation. 2021. Glaucoma Surgery Series: The Risks and Benefits of Glaucoma Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/glaucoma-surgery-series-risks-and-benefits-glaucoma-surgery> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
The following are rare glaucoma surgery risks or side effects:
- Vision loss
- Bleeding in the eye
- Infection
- Low eye pressure (or hypotony)
- Scarring cataract formation7BrightFocus Foundation. 2021. Glaucoma Surgery Series: The Risks and Benefits of Glaucoma Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/glaucoma-surgery-series-risks-and-benefits-glaucoma-surgery> [Accessed 24 June 2021].
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Options and alternatives
You may eventually need to undergo additional procedures if your eye pressure begins to rise or other changes occur in your eye.
Glaucoma treatment steps
Step 1: Diagnosis – The ophthalmologist will:
- Measure your eye pressure
- Inspect your eye’s drainage angle
- Examine your optic nerve for damage
- Test your peripheral (side) vision with a visual field test
- Take a picture or computer measurement of your optic nerve
- Measure the thickness of your cornea
Step 2: Your ophthalmologist will prescribe an appropriate glaucoma treatment.
Step 3: You can expect to visit your ophthalmologist about every 3–6 months for check-ups. However, this can vary depending on your treatment needs.
Glaucoma treatment results
Success rates for glaucoma surgery are as high as 90%.8Glaucoma Research Foundation. 2021. Incisional Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://www.glaucoma.org/treatment/conventional-surgery.php> [Accessed 24 June 2021].However, recovery typically takes at least a month (and sometimes two), during which your vision may be blurred.
During your initial consultation, we can discuss aftercare and recovery with you in detail so that you can make an informed decision, in conjunction with your eye doctor, on treatment.
Take the first step to get more clarity from your vision and confidence in your life
Book a consultation, and one of our Brisbane eye experts will guide you towards the very best treatment for your eyes so you can get the results you’re looking for
How to get help from our team of eye experts
Get the expert eye treatment you need in 3 easy steps
Step 1 – Reach out
Give us a call on: 3725 0222 and we’ll guide you towards an initial consultation.
Step 2 – We’ll meet
During your initial consultation, we will take a detailed medical history and examination to make an accurate assessment of the issue at hand.
Step 3 – Your vitality restored
We will treat you at one of our state-of-the-art Brisbane eye clinic facilities, with the aim of giving you the optimism and confidence to re-engage with life.
As seen on TV
OKKO aims to provide life-changing vision transformation to patients
Links to authoritative resources on glaucoma treatment
Our Brisbane eye specialists
We are dedicated to providing you with the best possible eye health and vision outcomes
Dr. Matthew Russell, MBChB, FRANZCO
Brisbane Eye Surgeon
I am a specialist ophthalmic microsurgeon, internationally trained retinal surgeon, medical retinal diseases specialist, and cataract surgeon. With a career that spans over 15 years, I have mastered the ability to achieve precise results with the aim of helping patients regain their confidence and youthful energy.
Dr Judy Ku, MBChB, FRANZCO
Specialist ophthalmic surgeon
I am a specialist in glaucoma, cornea & external diseases and cataract surgery. I am passionate about assisting my patients to achieve their full visual potential. I feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to restore sight and to improve people’s quality of life.