New Glaucoma Surgery Being Performed In St. George

Jason Ahee,M.D. is performing a new state-of-the-art surgery for advanced glaucoma.  The surgery is called trabeculectomy,and is the standard of care for glaucoma patients who are progressively getting worse despite maximum medical therapy.  Although trabeculectomy surgery has been performed for many years,a recent breakthrough called the Express Mini-Shunt has made the surgery more effective and predictable,thus resulting in safer and better outcomes,according to Dr. Ahee,who is the first and only surgeon in southern Utah performing this new,advanced procedure.

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that causes degeneration of the optic nerve and visual field loss.  The vision loss starts in the peripheral vision and often goes undetected by patients until they have an eye exam.  The vision loss is permanent and can progress to total blindness if left undiagnosed or untreated.

The usual treatment for glaucoma involves taking eye drops daily or having special laser treatments done to lower the eye pressure and prevent further optic nerve damage and vision loss.  If these measures are not successful,the next step is often trabeculectomy surgery,which involves creating a tiny opening that allows fluid from inside of the eye to slowly filter out underneath the surface of the eye,thus lowering the eye pressure.  The main drawbacks to traditional trabeculectomy surgery are:  (1) the tiny opening can scar down and close off,resulting in re-elevation of the eye pressure,and (2) the amount of fluid flowing through the opening can be unpredictable and lead to postoperative complications.  With this new procedure,Dr Ahee utilizes a miniature shunt in place of the tiny opening needed,thus preventing scarring and regulating fluid flow better.  “I think the mini-shunt has simplified the surgery and postoperative management,therefore,resulting in better patient outcomes,”said Dr. Ahee.  “It’s also nicer for the patients because now they can have their surgery right here in St. George instead of traveling to Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.”

Dr. Ahee is in private practice at Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists &Laser Eye Center,and is an assistant clinical professor at University of Utah’s Moran Eye Center.  For more information call 688-2020 or toll free 877-841-2020.