Big relief for woman, 46, with uncontrolled glaucoma, thanks to Dubai doctors

Dubai: A 46-year-old Indian woman, who was suffering from uncontrolled glaucoma, the second leading cause for blindness globally, has received a fresh lease of sight after doctors at a Dubai private hospital conducted a microshunt surgery on her affected eye.

The Sharjah-based finance professional had been battling diabetes for four years and was receiving treatment for retinal vein occlusion. But when she was referred to Aster Hospital Al Qusais after experiencing complications, including glaucoma, bleeding, and retinal detachment, doctors decided to change the course of treatment.

The woman was treated for blocked blood vessels (retinal vein occlusion) and underwent successful retinal detachment surgery performed by Dr. Boopathy Murugavel, Specialist Ophthalmology. She was also prescribed eye drops for glaucoma as part of her ongoing treatment. Despite being on eye drops, her eye pressure remained critically high at 50 mmHG, causing severe pain and a significant risk of further vision loss.

A glaucoma microshunt surgery was conducted, the minimally invasive procedure lowering her eye pressure to normal levels. It entailed implanting a small device in the eye toenabledrain more effectively, reducing pressure and preventing further damage to the optic nerve.

Dr. Murugavel explained how neovascular glaucoma is one of the most challenging forms of glaucoma to treat.

“This is because it often results from conditions like diabetic retinopathy or blocked blood vessels in the eye (retinal vein occlusion). Traditional surgical options, such as trabeculectomy, carry a higher risk of bleeding and failure due to scarring. The microshunt procedure provides a safer and more effective alternative, offering better outcomes with minimal downtime and faster recovery,” he said.

The relieved patient was very thankful. “I am truly thankful for the exceptional care I received. Dr. Boopathy and the team were supportive throughout the process. This surgery has brought me freedom from chronic pain.”

Glaucoma, often referred to as the “silent thief of sight”, causes progressive vision loss due to increased eye pressure. It covers a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of the eye called the optic nerve.

The symptoms can start so slowly that the patient may not notice them, which is why regular eye exams are essential. Neovascular glaucoma, a more severe form, arises from poor blood circulation in the eye due to conditions like diabetic retinopathy and blocked blood vessels.

The microshunt device offers a cutting-edge solution with reduced risk of complications and higher success rates, making it a game-changer in treating advanced glaucoma cases.

While glaucoma is more common in older adults, with those over 60 being six times more likely to develop the condition.