Vanessa Caceres is a nationally published health journalist with over 15 years of experience covering medical topics including eye health, cardiology, and more.

Ami A. Shah, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a practicing clinician specializing in oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery.

The goal of glaucoma surgery is to reduce intraocular pressure in your eye. There are many different types of glaucoma surgery, such as a trabeculectomy, trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, and glaucoma implant surgery. Laser-based glaucoma surgeries trabeculoplasty and iridotomy require the least amount of preparation.

Although glaucoma surgeries require less preparation than surgery on other parts of the body, you should still prepare for the surgery and know what to expect. As always, talk to your eye surgeon and the practice team if you have any questions.

Glaucoma surgeries don’t require an overnight hospital stay. The procedure can take place in several settings:

Laser-based glaucoma surgeries, such as a trabeculoplasty and an iridotomy, take place at the ophthalmologist’s office. With laser-based procedures, the eye surgeon can treat both eyes at the same time versus just one eye.

Glaucoma surgeries that take place at an ambulatory surgery center or outpatient clinic include a trabeculectomy and the insertion of a glaucoma drainage implant.

Here’s what you can usually expect to find in the operating room for glaucoma surgery:

For a laser-based glaucoma procedure, you can expect to find:

Wear comfortable clothing the day of your glaucoma surgery. It can be helpful to wear a shirt you can easily take on and off without moving it past the eye, such as a button-down shirt. That way, you minimize contact with the eye when putting on or removing your shirt.

For a non-laser glaucoma surgery, you will wear a hospital gown on your upper body during the surgery, which means you’ll remove your shirt but not the clothing on the bottom half of your body.

There are a few items you’ll want to avoid using on the day of surgery:

Follow any instructions from your eye surgeon about what you can or can’t eat or drink before glaucoma surgery. Most of the time, your eye surgeon will want you to avoid eating or drinking before your procedure.

However, some will say that it’s OK for you to eat beforehand. The difference usually depends on whether or not you will receive anesthesia during surgery.

Before your glaucoma surgery, always let your eye surgeon know of any medications or dietary supplements that you use. You may be asked to stop certain medications before surgery. Any recommendations on medications to stop using will be linked to the type of glaucoma procedure you are having.

For instance, many ophthalmologists prefer that you stop using blood thinners a week before your surgery. This is to decrease the chance of bleeding during the glaucoma procedure. Your eye surgeon may ask you to stop vitamin E or aspirin in advance of surgery for similar reasons.

Ask your eye surgeon what medicines you can or can’t use the morning of the surgery. Some may say it’s fine if you use medication for diabetes or high blood pressure. Others may ask you to avoid using them but to bring the medications with you. Your eye surgeon also can advise you on the use of glaucoma drops the morning of the surgery.

To help prepare for glaucoma surgery, you may receive prescriptions for several types of eye drops, including:

Make sure to have a responsible adult who can drive you home from the appointment and who can drive you anywhere as needed during the day of the surgery. There are a few other things you want to make sure you have with you the day of the surgery:

The ophthalmologist's staff will likely request your health insurance information and paperwork in advance of your surgery, but it's always a good idea to have them with you in case any questions come up.

For any type of surgery, you should try to stop smoking as early as you can before surgery. Smoking can interfere with your healing after surgery. You should also avoid alcohol for 48 hours before your surgery, as alcohol can raise your risk for surgery complications.

Glaucoma surgery may sound intimidating, but it’s often an effective way to lower your intraocular pressure and lower the chance of losing vision. If you have glaucoma and your intraocular pressure is consistently high, it can affect your vision and even lead to blindness if left untreated.

Glaucoma surgery also may reduce the number of eye medications you need to use. Knowing how to prepare for glaucoma surgery can help lower any anxiety you are feeling. Ask your eye surgeon about any special concerns you have regarding glaucoma surgery or your eye health. 

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Glaucoma treatment. 

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Glaucoma drainage implants. 

Quigley HA. Glaucoma: What every patient should know. Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Cleveland Clinic. 3 reasons why smoking before surgery isn’t an option. 

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.