Key Points
- Cataract surgery and certain glaucoma procedures can sometimes be performed during the same surgical visit.
- MIGS options such as iStent, Hydrus, and OMNI are designed to improve fluid drainage and help lower eye pressure.
- The appropriate approach depends on your type of glaucoma, pressure goals, cataract symptoms, and overall eye health.
Patients living with both cataracts and glaucoma may wonder whether they need two completely separate procedures. In some cases, glaucoma and cataract surgery can be addressed during the same surgical visit. A combined cataract and glaucoma surgery may pair cataract removal with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or MIGS, allowing the surgeon to address cloudy vision and eye pressure as part of one treatment plan.
Why Cataracts and Glaucoma Are Sometimes Treated Together
Cataracts develop when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, while glaucoma damages the optic nerve and is often associated with problems controlling pressure inside the eye.
Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens. Removing the natural lens also changes the anatomy at the front of the eye. The anterior chamber generally becomes deeper, and the drainage angle can widen, which is especially relevant for patients with narrow angles.
For some patients, cataract surgery also creates an opportunity to address glaucoma during the same procedure.
How Cataract Surgery With MIGS Works
Cataract surgery with MIGS combines standard cataract treatment with a minimally invasive procedure designed to help aqueous fluid drain more effectively.
Several MIGS approaches are available. Depending on the patient, a surgeon may consider options such as iStent, Hydrus, or OMNI. These treatments use different methods to improve the eye’s drainage system and help control intraocular pressure.
The appropriate procedure depends on the type and severity of glaucoma, current pressure, target pressure, medications, and individual eye anatomy.
Potential Benefits of Combined Surgery
When a patient is an appropriate candidate, combining procedures may offer several practical benefits:
- Addressing the cataract and glaucoma during one surgical visit
- Completing one overall recovery period instead of scheduling separate procedures
- Improving cataract-related vision while also working toward better eye pressure control
- Potentially reducing dependence on daily glaucoma medications
Medication needs vary. Some patients may continue to require glaucoma drops even after successful surgery.
Who May Be a Candidate for Combined Surgery?
There is no single approach that is right for every person with cataracts and glaucoma. Your ophthalmologist will consider how advanced your glaucoma is, how well your pressure is currently controlled, your target eye pressure, your cataract symptoms, and your eye structure.
Patients who need greater pressure reduction may require a different glaucoma procedure rather than MIGS. A complete evaluation helps determine which option best balances vision improvement, pressure control, and safety.
Personalized Cataract and Glaucoma Care in Tampa Bay
Advanced Cataract & Glaucoma Care, PLLC provides care for patients managing both cataracts and glaucoma. Our team uses advanced technology and personalized treatment planning to determine whether combined surgery or another approach best fits your eyesight needs.
If you are considering cataract surgery and also have glaucoma, contact us to schedule a consultation and discuss your treatment options, benefits, and possible risks.
Image credit: // Shutterstck // Roman Zaiets
