If you’ve been managing glaucoma with daily eye drops, you know the routine can feel overwhelming. Multiple medications, complex schedules, side effects, and the ongoing expense add up quickly.
When patients learn about minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), one of their first questions is simple: can this procedure help me stop using glaucoma drops?
The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no, and understanding what to expect can help you make an informed decision about your glaucoma treatment. Keep reading to learn what MIGS can realistically achieve and whether this approach might work for your specific situation!
What is MIGS?
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery refers to a group of newer surgical procedures designed to lower eye pressure with less risk and faster recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery.
These procedures work by improving the eye’s natural drainage system, allowing fluid to flow more easily out of the eye and reducing intraocular pressure.
Unlike traditional glaucoma surgeries that create entirely new drainage pathways or involve significant tissue removal, MIGS procedures work with your eye’s existing anatomy. Most MIGS procedures can be performed during cataract surgery or as standalone treatments. They typically involve inserting tiny devices or using laser energy to enhance fluid outflow through the trabecular meshwork (the eye’s natural drainage filter) or other drainage routes.
The specialists at Fichte, Endl & Elmer offer several MIGS techniques depending on each patient’s specific type and severity of glaucoma. Because these procedures are less invasive than traditional surgery, they offer faster recovery and fewer complications.
However, they also tend to produce more moderate reductions in eye pressure compared to traditional filtering surgery, which brings us to the question of medication reduction.
Can a MIGS Procedure Eliminate the Need for Glaucoma Drops?
The honest answer is that MIGS can significantly reduce your need for glaucoma medications, but complete elimination isn’t guaranteed for everyone.
The goal of any glaucoma treatment is to lower intraocular pressure enough to prevent further optic nerve damage. For some patients, MIGS achieves adequate pressure control without any medications. For others, the procedure reduces the number of drops needed but doesn’t eliminate them entirely.
Success with MIGS is typically measured by two factors: achieving target eye pressure and reducing medication burden.
Most patients experience meaningful medication reduction after their procedure. This represents a real improvement in quality of life, even when it’s not complete medication freedom.
Your target eye pressure depends on the severity of your glaucoma and how much damage has already occurred to your optic nerve. Someone with early glaucoma might need pressure in the mid-teens, while someone with more advanced disease may need pressure in the low teens or even lower.
If your ophthalmologist determines you need an intraocular pressure of 18 mmHg and MIGS brings you to 16 mmHg, you might not need any drops. But if you need pressure below 12 mmHg and MIGS brings you to 14 mmHg, you’ll likely still need some medication support.
If MIGS brings your pressure to target without medications, that’s ideal. If you still need one drop instead of three, that’s also a meaningful success.
Is MIGS Right for You?
MIGS procedures work best for people with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma who are already planning cataract surgery or who haven’t achieved adequate pressure control with medications alone. If you’re using multiple glaucoma drops, experiencing side effects, or struggling with the medication routine, MIGS might offer a way to simplify your treatment while maintaining good pressure control.
Not everyone is a candidate for MIGS. Your eye anatomy, overall health, and specific type of glaucoma all factor into whether MIGS is appropriate.
Ready to explore whether MIGS could reduce your dependence on glaucoma drops? Schedule an appointment at Fichte, Endl & Elmer in Buffalo, NY, today by clicking this link or calling 1-800-309-2020 to schedule a consultation with the docor.
