Treatment of Glaucoma Combined With Cataract in Germany

Without timely treatment of cataract (clouding of the lens), many patients develop glaucoma (elevated intraocular pressure). This is due to the fact that the lens gradually increases in size and impairs aqueous humor circulation. If blindness caused by cataract is reversible, then in the case of glaucoma, visual acuity can no longer be increased and it is only possible to preserve what is left. That is why it is important to undergo treatment immediately after the diagnosis has been established. German doctors can treat cataract and glaucoma within a single surgical intervention.

Content

1. Treatment tactics
2. Scenarios when it is enough to treat only the cataract
3. Combined surgical interventions

Treatment tactics

There are several different therapeutic tactics available in relation to patients who have cataract in combination with glaucoma. These are the three main approaches:

• Cataract surgery without any special stages of the operation to eliminate glaucoma – lens replacement reduces intraocular pressure;
• Two-stage treatment of the two diseases: sequential surgical interventions for the treatment of cataract and glaucoma;
• Single-stage combined surgery.

Scenarios when it is enough to treat only the cataract

Currently, ultrasonic phacoemulsification is considered the main treatment method for cataract. The doctor destroys the lens with ultrasound, through a micro-incision and turns it into a liquid, then drains it off through a thin tube. Doctors implant an intraocular lens, which is an artificial lens. This operation can completely restore the patients’ vision. The vision becomes even better than it was in youth, since the operation allows the doctors to correct any refractive error, including myopia and age-related farsightedness. The special properties of the artificial lens make it possible to achieve better vision in the dark, eliminate glare, etc.

Sometimes this treatment is also enough to eliminate glaucoma. Ultrasonic phacoemulsification allows the doctors to achieve a moderate decrease in intraocular pressure for phacogenic and angle-closure glaucoma but only at an early stage of the disease. This will only work when it was previously possible to keep the intraocular pressure under control with the help of drugs. Other conditions for the successful implementation of such an operation include: a low dose of drugs present, the absence of a significant narrowing of the visual fields and the absence of significant changes in the optic nerve head.

Combined surgical interventions

An intervention on the one lens is not sufficient for most patients. Glaucoma surgery is also required. The treatment can be carried out within a single stage or in two stages. The single-stage treatment is preferable for most patients, since in this case the overall recovery period is reduced and the time to achieve the final therapeutic outcome is reduced.

For the treatment of glaucoma in combination with cataract in Germany, doctors mainly use a single-stage approach. The main advantages of this are as follows:

• Rapid improvement of visual acuity;
• Intraocular pressure decreases immediately, which reduces the degree of damage to the optic nerve;
• More accessible assessment of the glaucoma process in the postoperative period;
• Lower risk of complications compared to two sequential operations;
• Reduced hospital stay for the patient.

Phacotrabeculectomy is one of the available combined operations for the treatment of the two diseases. It combines phacoemulsification with trabeculectomy. This is the "gold standard" for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Trabeculectomy involves removing part of the trabecular meshwork so that aqueous humor flows freely under the conjunctiva. The operation can be supplemented by the implantation of a valve device, to avoid any overgrowing of the channel for fluid outflow.

In recent years, non-penetrating surgical interventions, such as non-penetrating deep sclerectomy, have become widespread in developed countries. It is sparing, safe and does not require long-term rehabilitation. This intervention, in Germany, is performed through a micro-incision, which is self-sealing and does not require suturing.

If you have glaucoma with cataract, you can undergo treatment in Germany. There are a few reasons for you to undergo your treatment in this country:

• High-precision diagnostics of eye diseases using modern equipment;
• Treatment of cataract and glaucoma within a single operation;
• Sparing innovative surgery through micro-incisions;
• Fast and complete restoration of vision;
• Successful treatment of even the most severe forms of cataract and glaucoma;
• Minimal risk of glaucoma recurrence even many years after surgery.

If you are going to have treatment in Germany, the Booking Health service will be very helpful for you. Our website will answer all your questions, such as, what is the price for the operation? It will help you to select a clinic and find where you can undergo treatment, at the best price. The prices indicated on our website are final. The cost will not increase, even if additional medical procedures are required, as all additional costs up to 200,000 EUR will be covered by your insurance. The Booking Health specialists will select the best clinics in Germany for you and arrange your entire trip.

Authors: 

The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Farrukh Ahmed. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

Sources:

Ophthalmology Times

PubMed

Mayo Clinic