Is A Trabeculoplasty Necessary When The Eye Pressure Value Is 20 MmHg?

Posted on Tue, 5 Sep 2017

Question: I'm a glaucoma patient (of around 9 years) and during the last 7 months or so I have had trouble with my eye pressure. It has been measured by 2 ophalmogists who have had similar readings--around 24 in the right eye and 20 in the left. Both have changed one of my eye drops to Timolol because I showed an allergy to Brimonidine. The pressure has gone down to about 20 and 17 and the allergy (red eyes) is going away.
2 questions: (1) How low does the pressure need to be in order to avoid a trabeculoplasty and (2) Can cataract surgery be done before trabeculoplasties?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Eye pressure seems to be in control

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Let me try to address the issues:

1. Normal eye pressure ranges from 12-22 mm Hg, and eye pressure of greater than 22 mm Hg is considered higher than normal. It seems that the eye pressure is in control with medication. I am not certain that trabeculoplasty is needed unless the situation somehow worsens.

2. Can be done but it would perhaps be better to attempt both in a combined procedure.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar