Why Choose Canaloplasty? | New-Glaucoma-Treatments.com

Dr. David D. Richardson, Eye Surgeon in California, answers one of the most commonly asked questions about Canaloplasty (an advanced minimally invasive glaucoma treatment), "Why Choose Canaloplasty?"
So why choose canaloplasty over other more traditional glaucoma surgeries such as trabeculectomy or tubes? Well, there are number of reasons but the main one is SAFETY. Canaloplasty is simply a safer surgery and there are multiple studies that look at its safety profile and this can easily be compared with those of trabeculectomy and tubes shunts. For example, it's very very rare for anyone to lose vision from canaloplasty; it's not so rare with trabeculectomy. As a matter of fact, with trabeculectomy there's a lifetime risk of loss of vision from what's called endophthalmitis. Such a risk does not exist with canaloplasty.
Age is another factor to consider when choosing among glaucoma surgeries. For example, when you're younger, trabeculectomy tends not to be such a good choice. There are a number of reasons for this. One is that younger people tend to have a more aggressive healing response and healing works against you with trabeculectomy. The only way to avoid that healing response is to use something called an "antimetabolite", which results in a permanent loss of ability to heal in the area of the eye where the trabeculectomy was performed. This then put somebody in a lifetime risk of infection and loss of vision. Someone who's very young has many years to be concerned about such a thing. So, for that reason, age factors in favor of canaloplasty, which does not have those lifetime risks that trabeculectomy does.
Another thing to consider is one's refractive error. For example, people who are very near-sighted or myopic tend not to do well with trabeculectomy. Because of the risk of vision-threatening complications; in particular, one called hypotony or a very low pressure. These complications are simply more common in somebody who is myopic or near sighted and goes ahead with trabeculectomy. Although hypotony can occasionally be seen with canaloplasty, the risk is nowhere near as high as with trabeculectomy. So in general, those with open angle glaucoma, who are near sighted, are better off with canaloplasty than trabeculectomy. If you have an active life style, it's very important that you consider your glaucoma surgery options carefully. Certain types of glaucoma surgeries, such as trabeculectomy, do not go together well with active lifestyles; especially if that lifestyle involves water sports. Because with trabeculectomy, a small blister-like structures form on the eye that is very delicate and can easily be ruptured. Any kind of activity that could potentially damage that bleb should be avoided. Diving into the water without goggles is one such activity. Therefore, if you have trabeculectomy, for the rest of your life you will need to wear protective goggles, with any type of water sport. Such a restriction simply does not exist with canaloplasty....
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About Dr. Richardson:
David Richardson, MD. is a Board-certified Ophthalmologist (Eye Surgeon) in California. He has completed his undergraduate studies at University of Southern California, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and received many academic awards. He earned his medical degree at the prestigous Harvard Medical School with scholarships from Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. He was also awarded with Harvard Medical Linnane Scholarship and Harvard National Scholarship. While in medical school, Dr. Richardson accepted a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study visual cognition. He then completed an internal medicine internship at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, which was followed by ophthalmology training at LAC+USC/Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles - one of the top ophthalmology residencies in the country.
Dr. Richardson has authored a patient-centered book on Cataract, "So, You've Got A Cataract?" and has written many articles about the latest glaucoma treatments on his blog, New-Glaucoma-Treatments.com.
Dr. Richardson is among an elite group of glaucoma surgeons in the country performing the highly specialized canaloplasty procedure. In fact, patients have traveled half way around the world to have canaloplasty by Dr. Richardson. He has performed thousands of advanced cataract and Canaloplasty glaucoma procedures with excellent results!
To learn more about Dr. David Richardson, please visit david-richardson-md.com.
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We Listen. You'll See!℠
David D. Richardson, M.D.
Patient-Focused Ophthalmologist
San Marino Eye
2020 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
Phone: [phone]
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Patient-Focused Websites:
New-Glaucoma-Treatments.com
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[@Meshwork123]

Many thanks for the advice, Dr Richardson. It's certainly an interesting learning process.

[@denisehiggins1180]

P
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[@Meshwork123]

Some good advice there by Dr Richardson. Another thing to consider, which I believe to be the case, is that if someone experiences the misfortune of a failed trabeculectomy, that person can no longer be considered a candidate thereafter for the canaloplasty procedure. In the reverse situation, however, I believe that filtering surgery can usually be performed.
David White

[@alinawafali6228]

Good job doctor do we consider canaloplasty is suitable for all types of glaucoma ?

[@DrDavidDRichardsonMDSanMarino]

Canaloplasty is appropriate for most forms of adult open angle glaucoma.

[@alinawafali6228]

@@DrDavidDRichardsonMDSanMarino Thank you very much for reply I was thinking for canolalaplasty for my narrow angel glaucoma .