Recent online glaucoma patient education: Keeping you informed
Glaucoma NZ recently hosted five online education sessions as part of its 2025 Spring Seminar Series, designed to help people living with glaucoma better understand and manage their eye health. Below is a sneak peek at two sessions and insights shared by expert speakers. Don’t forget to always ask your specialist about the treatment that’s right for you.
Watery and Dry Eyes: Tips for Patients on Lifelong Glaucoma Drops
Dr Sid Ogra, Expert in Oculoplastics and Cataract Surgery, explored a common but often overlooked issue for people living with glaucoma: dry or watery eyes. Dr Ogra explained that long-term use of glaucoma eye drops, especially those with preservatives, can irritate the eye surface and damage tiny oil glands that keep tears balanced. This can create a cycle of dryness, discomfort, and excessive watering.
The key message? You don’t have to live with these symptoms. There are preservative free drops, eyelid care routines, and specialist dry eye clinics that can help restore comfort and protect your eyes. If your eyes often feel dry, gritty, or watery, speak with your glaucoma specialist. There are effective options available to help you see and feel better. Watch the session here.
Your Guide to Glaucoma Surgery
Dr Sam Kain, Ophthalmologist at Tauranga Eye Specialists, unpacked how glaucoma surgery works to protect vision by lowering eye pressure. Using easy-to-follow analogies, Dr Kain explained that the eye’s drainage system is like plumbing. When the drain becomes blocked, pressure builds up, damaging the optic nerve. He described modern procedures such as goniotomy, tiny iStent devices, and the newer PRESERFLO™ MicroShunt, which help create or clear drainage pathways and can reduce the need for daily drops. For more advanced cases, operations like trabeculectomy or tube implants create a new channel altogether. Dr Kain also highlighted New Zealand’s pioneering role in glaucoma surgery and the promising innovations now emerging. His key message: there are more ways than ever to safely manage pressure and protect your sight for the long term. Watch the session here.
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Find more online glaucoma patient education here.