Is glaucoma surgery safe for elderly patients?Glaucoma Surgery
3 months ago
My father is 65 and has been on glaucoma drops for years, but the doctor said surgery is now necessary. How safe is glaucoma surgery at his age, and are there risks like infection, bleeding, or sudden loss of vision?
Answers (1)
Age alone is not a barrier for glaucoma surgery, and many patients in their sixties and seventies undergo trabeculectomy or tube-shunt procedures safely. The risks include infection, bleeding inside the eye, or a sudden drop in pressure, but these complications are uncommon in experienced hands. Surgeons take many precautions, such as using antibiotics and carefully controlling healing, to minimize risks. The main priority is to protect the remaining vision, and for most patients, the benefits far outweigh the possible complications.
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