What are Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGs)

Glaucoma is more common than you might think with 3 million Americans suffering from it. But as common as it is, it’s also very severe. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. That’s why your solution may be minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries from ophthalmologist Cory Bergman, MD, in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Casper, Wyoming. 

Dr. Bergman offers his patients the chance to benefit from minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries by using advanced techniques to reduce the intraocular pressure (IOP) in their eyes, which relieves pressure on their optic nerve. 

Types of glaucoma

There are many types of glaucoma, but even though it takes different forms, the disease has one thing in common. In all forms of glaucoma, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain is damaged, usually due to high eye pressure. 

The most common type of glaucoma is called open-angle glaucoma. This typically has no symptoms other than slow vision loss, which is why 50% of people don’t know they have it. It is also hereditary, which means it can run in your family for generations and increases your risk of developing glaucoma four to nine times. 

Another type of glaucoma, called angle-closure glaucoma, is rare but is deemed a medical emergency. Its symptoms include eye pain, nausea, and sudden visual disturbance.

There are also additional types of glaucoma, such as secondary glaucoma caused by an underlying eye condition, and congenital glaucoma which is a rare condition that occurs in young children.

You have several options for treating glaucoma, including eye drops, medications, and surgery. When it comes to surgery, it doesn’t have to be severe and life-threatening. That’s where minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries come in. 

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) are a group of surgical procedures that treat glaucoma using less disruptive methods than normally used in traditional glaucoma surgeries. In MIGS, smaller incisions require less disruption of your eye’s normal anatomy. However, like every person, every eye has a different anatomy and health. 

These procedures are unique, meaning each person needs several techniques during the surgery, as they must be customized to match your specific needs. Some parts of the procedure may include removing part or all of the trabecular meshwork (drainage system), placing a tiny stent to enable fluid flow out of the eye, or other corrections. 

To learn more about minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries or if you have any questions on what more the surgery entails, call the office nearest you or book your appointment online today.