Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) Specialist

What is minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)?

MIGS is a term for minimally invasive procedures that offer an alternative to traditional glaucoma surgery. MIGS procedures require the tiniest of incisions in the eye and use microscopic instruments. MIGS operations include:

Trabectome®

During Trabectome, your surgeon removes the trabecular meshwork from your eye. This meshwork is made of fibers that develop when you have glaucoma. It blocks the eye’s natural drainage system.

Stents

Stents are microscopic tubes your surgeon implants into your eye. Fluid drains from the eye to the conjunctiva (the eye’s outer membrane). North Shore Glaucoma Center & Eye Physicians use state-of-the-art devices like the XEN® gel stent.

OMNI® Surgical System

OMNI combines two procedures, trabeculectomy and canaloplasty. With a trabeculectomy, your surgeon makes a new channel for fluid drainage at the top of your eye.

Canaloplasty involves placing a microcatheter (a tiny tube) in the Schlemm’s canal — the channel through which fluid drains in a healthy eye. A microcatheter enlarges this drainage channel so that more fluid can escape from the eye.

Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation

Laser cyclophotocoagulation works by reducing the activity of cells in your eye that produce fluid in your eyeball. MIGS versions of this treatment are far gentler, so they’re less likely to cause inflammation. North Shore Glaucoma Center & Eye Physicians uses the Iridex® MicroPulse P3 Glaucoma Device (MP3) with CYCLO G6™ laser energy.

Why would I need MIGS?

You might need MIGS if you have glaucoma that’s not responding to other treatments.

Glaucoma damages your optic nerve when abnormally high fluid pressure builds up inside the eyeball. The eye fluid (vitreous) should cycle through your eyeball continuously. As cells in the eye make new vitreous, excess drains away. Glaucoma prevents proper drainage so that fluid collects in the eye, increasing pressure in the eyeball.

The North Shore Glaucoma Center & Eye Physicians team treats glaucoma with eye drops or noninvasive selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). These treatments work for many patients, but your eye doctor might recommend MIGS if your eye pressure remains high.

What are the advantages of MIGS?

MIGS offers an alternative to more invasive glaucoma surgeries. Procedures like trabeculectomy and glaucoma valve implantation are often very effective at reducing eye pressure and stopping glaucoma from getting worse. But they’re major surgeries, which means there’s a risk of complications.

MIGS operations have fewer risks, making them safer than standard glaucoma surgeries. MIGS is also less painful and offers a faster recovery.

Call North Shore Glaucoma Center & Eye Physicians today or request an appointment online to find out if MIGS can help treat your glaucoma.