For the first time in Georgia, glaucoma patients have a new minimally invasive treatment option that may help slow the progression of the disease. The procedure, trabeculotomy, performed with the Trabectome, was performed by Dr. Reay Brown at Northside Hospital.
“The purpose of trabeculotomy, performed with the Trabectome, is to restore the eye’s natural plumbing system, help it to function better and prevent further damage to the eye,” said Dr. Reay Brown, the only certified Trabectome surgeon in Georgia.
The procedure uses a small probe, the Trabectome, to open the eye’s drainage system, through a tiny incision in the cornea. Then, a small portion of eye tissue is removed to help the drain function better. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and usually takes less than 30 minutes. Patients recover much faster than with conventional glaucoma surgery.
However, not all patients with glaucoma are good candidates for trabeculotomy with the Trabectome, according to Dr. Brown. It should be used only when eye drops and laser trabeculoplasty fail to reduce pressure, but before trabeculectomy is considered. “Patients should see their personal ophthalmologists for a comprehensive evaluation to determine if they are a good candidate for the procedure,” he says.
