Glaucoma Treatment abroad
Depending on the extent and severity of the condition in individual patients, there are various avenues of treatment available for glaucoma. These include medication (such as eye drops), laser surgery, and microsurgery. If diagnosed early enough, glaucoma can be managed using medicated eye drops. Most glaucoma eye drops need to be taken a few times per day, and ease symptoms by either reducing the amount of fluid produced by the eye, or increasing drainage. In either case, intraocular pressure is reduced.
Types of glaucoma eye drops include prostaglandin analogs, which work by increasing fluid drainage from the eye. Beta blockers are the second most commonly used type of glaucoma drops. These work by decreasing the production of fluid within the eye, and are inexpensive. Alpha agonists do both - increasing drainage and reducing production of fluid in the eyes. Laser surgery is becoming an increasingly popular method of treating glaucoma. Laser surgery is used mainly for glaucoma patients whose intraocular pressure was not satisfactorily decreased by drops, or those who suffered allergic reactions to the medication. Furthermore,some patients also decide to have laser surgery as a primary treatment, in the hope that their intraocular pressure will be reduced enough to avoid using drops at all. Forms of laser surgery for glaucoma include laser iridotomy, in which a hole is made in the iris, allowing fluid to drain away from the eye. Laser trabeculoplasty involves the application of lasers via mirrored contact lense into the eye.
The procedure is fast, involves little pain, and allows fluid to drain easier. Laser cycloablation (also called ciliary body destruction and cyclophotocoagulation) involves burning the part of the eye that produces the fluid (known as the ciliary body), which destroys the cells. This stops the fluid from being produced, lowering the pressure within the eye. The final type of treatment available for glaucoma is microsurgery.
Microsurgery procedures available to glaucoma sufferers include trabeculectomy, which involves removing a small clogged up piece of the trabecular network to make a new drainage path for fluid to leave the eye. Glaucoma implants or aqueous shunts are microscopic tubes attached to a reservoir. This is placed inside the eye, again lowering intraocular pressure by creating a new pathway for fluid to drain. There are some less invasive microsurgery procedures - viscocanalostomy, canaloplasty, and trabectome - used to lower intraocular pressure, but they are not always as effective as a trabeculectomy or implant.
What other ophthalmology treatments are available around the world?
Vitrectomy Clinics Abroad A vitrectomy is a treatment for a detached retina and focuses on the removal of vitreous gel. There are many ophthalmology clinics around the world offering quality vitrectomy treatment, including in Turkey, Spain, and Poland. Cornea Transplant Clinics Abroad A corneal transplant involves the replacement of damaged or diseased corneal tissue with healthy, donated tissue. Many patients travel in order to find more-affordable treatment, often to countries such as Germany, Israel, and Switzerland. Chalazion Treatment Clinics Abroad Chalazion treatment deals with the swelling and inflammation of the eyelid and surrounding glands, and is available at clinics worldwide.,
| # | Country | Average Cost | Starting Cost | Highest Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | $870 | $700 | $1500 |
There are many factors that can affect the costs
Glaucoma treatment aims to relieve symptoms of glaucoma and prevent further damage, deterioration, and loss of vision. Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve, which creates problems with vision and if left untreated, can lead to loss of vision. Glaucoma is caused by a build up of pressure in the eye, often referred to as intraocular pressure. The pressure causes damage to the optic nerve which can impair vision. Once glaucoma causes damage to vision, the effects are irreversible. Patients may experience symptoms such as pain in the eye, seeing halos around lights, headache, and loss of vision. While symptoms may present, not all patients will experience symptoms and therefore may not suspect glaucoma.
There are different types of glaucoma which include open-angle glaucoma, acute angle-closure glaucoma, developmental glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when fluid, known as acqueous humor, is unable to efficiently drain from the eye, causing a build up of fluid which creates pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve. This type of glaucoma often occurs without symptoms presenting. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is caused when the iris pushes onto the drainage tubes in the eye, preventing fluid to drain properly and applying pressure to the optic nerve. Developmental glaucoma, also referred to as congenital glaucoma, occurs in children who in some cases, may have been born with the disease.
Symptoms include sensitivity to light, watery eyes, large eye, and squinting. Secondary glaucoma can occur as a result of trauma to eye or from other eye conditions. Patients who have a high risk of glaucoma include patients who have a family history of the disease, over the age of 60, are short-sighted, and patients with ocular hypertension. It is advised that patients over the age of 40 attend regular check-ups ophthalmology consultations. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatment, and surgery. In some cases treatments may be combined. Recommended for Patients with glaucoma Time requirements Average length of stay abroad 2 - 7 days. Number of trips abroad needed 1. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, causing vision to deteriorate overtime.
The doctor will likely perform tests and an eye exam to determine the amount of damage to the optic nerve, to measure the amount of pressure in the eye, to test the vision, and measure the thickness of the cornea.
Patients will meet with the doctor to discuss the treatment options and the doctor will decide which course of treatment is best for the patient. Patients should prepare any questions that the may have and should voice any concerns that they may have.
The doctor may prescribe one treatment or advise combining treatments.,
Eye drops are often prescribed to treat open-angle glaucoma and are administered by the patients. The drops should be dropped into the eye, usually into the lower eyelid, and patients should then briefly close their eye to allow the eye to absorb the drops. There are different types of eye drops which the doctor may prescribe, including prostaglandin analogues, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and sympathomimetics. Patients may be prescribed multiple eye drops. Laser treatments may also be performed to treat glaucoma and includes 2 types of treatments, laser trabeculoplasty and cyclodiode laser treatment.
Laser trabeculoplasty involves directing high energy light beams into the eye to break down the blockage in the drainage tubes in the eye. Cyclodiode laser treatment is performed by using using a laser directed at tissue to destroy it and break it down, so that the eye does not produce as much fluid, therefore reducing pressure in the eye. Trabeculoplasty surgery is the most common type of surgery performed to treat glaucoma and involves removing tissue located near the cornea to allow fluid to properly flow out of the eye.
This reduces pressure in the eye and can prevent further damage to the optic nerve. Anesthesia Varies between procedure, however, local anesthetic with sedation is commonly used. Glaucoma treatment includes both surgical and non-surgical options.,
Post procedure care Patients who undergo surgery may be prescribed antibiotics to take after the surgery in order to help prevent affection.
Possible discomfort Patients may experience pain and discomfort in the eye after treatment.,
Following are the best 10 hospitals for Glaucoma Treatment in the world:
| # | Hospital | Country | City | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLK-MAX Super Specialty Hospital | India | New Delhi | --- | |
| 2 | Thainakarin Hospital | Thailand | Bangkok | --- | |
| 3 | Medipol Mega University Hospital | Turkey | Istanbul | --- | |
| 4 | Medicover Hospital Hungary | Hungary | Budapest | --- | |
| 5 | Fortis Hospital Mulund | India | Mumbai | $700 | |
| 6 | University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppend... | Germany | Hamburg | --- | |
| 7 | Metro Hospital and Heart Institute, Noid... | India | Noida | --- | |
| 8 | European Medical Center (EMC) | Russian Federation | Moscow | --- | |
| 9 | Hospital Galenia | Mexico | Cancun | --- | |
| 10 | Policlinica Miramar | Spain | Mallorca | --- |
Following are the best doctors for Glaucoma Treatment in the world:
| # | DOCTOR | SPECIALITY | HOSPITAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Atul Ursekar | Ophthalmologist | Jaslok Hospital & Researc... | |
| 2 | Dr. Mridula Mehta | Ophthalmologist | Primus Super Specialty Ho... | |
| 3 | Dr Mridula Mehta | Ophthalmologist | Primus Super Specialty Ho... | |
| 4 | Prof. Igal Leibovitch | Ophthalmologist | Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical... | |
| 5 | Prof. Dr. med. Gerd U. Auffarth | Ophthalmologist | Heidelberg University Hos... | |
| 6 | Dr. Scott D. Smith | Ophthalmologist | Cleveland Clinic |
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Mozocare is a medical access platform for hospitals and clinics to assist patients access best medical care at affordable prices. Mozocare Insights provides Health News, Latest treatment innovation, Hospital ranking , Healthcare Industry Information and Knowledge sharing .
The information on this page was reviewed and approved by Mozocare team. This page was updated on 16 Jun, 2020.