Glaucoma Treatments, Surgeries, and Costs

Your doctor will recommend the treatment option that best matches the severity, type of glaucoma, and your eye health. While these procedures can’t restore lost vision, they can help protect the sight you still have — supporting your independence and quality of life. If you have cataract surgery at the same time, though, you might actually notice your vision getting better.

The encouraging news is that, with today’s treatments, many people successfully manage glaucoma and continue to live full, active lives and often remain asymptomatic.

Continue reading to learn more about the various procedures available.

Often, your doctor will suggest starting with laser surgery, as it’s a simpler step if more surgery is required.

Studies show that for many patients, selective laser trabeculoplasty is the preferred initial treatment for patients with high eye pressure or primary open-angle glaucoma. 

The procedure uses a focused beam of light to gently treat the eye’s main drainage system (called the trabecular meshwork). Improving the flow of fluid out of the eye helps lower pressure and protect your vision. The good news is that laser treatment is usually quick and often performed in your doctor’s office. It requires little recovery time, and many people can return to normal activities shortly afterward.

If laser treatment or medication isn’t enough to control eye pressure, your doctor may recommend incisional surgery. Unlike laser treatment, these procedures involve creating a small surgical opening in the eye’s internal drainage system or in the sclera (white part of the eye) to improve fluid outflow and lower pressure.

There are various types of incisional procedures, and your doctor will select the one that best suits your needs. While recovery can take longer than with laser treatment, these surgeries are often very effective at lowering eye pressure and protecting your vision. Many patients find peace of mind knowing that this step gives them another chance to preserve their sight and maintain their quality of life.

Trabeculectomy Surgery

Doctors often view trabeculectomy as the gold standard for glaucoma surgery due to its effectiveness in lowering eye pressure and protecting vision. In this procedure, your surgeon creates a small new pathway in the white part of your eye (the sclera) to help fluid drain more effectively. The fluid collects under the outer layer of the eye (the conjunctiva), forming a tiny bubble-like reservoir called a bleb, usually hidden under the upper eyelid.

To support healing, your doctor may use special medications to reduce scarring and help maintain the new drainage pathway. Recovery typically takes a few weeks and involves regular follow-up visits to carefully monitor healing and keep the eye pressure at the right level.

Aqueous Shunt Surgery

In some cases, your doctor may recommend an aqueous shunt instead of a trabeculectomy. In this procedure, a tiny tube (or shunt) is placed in the eye to help fluid drain out safely and steadily. Like trabeculectomy, this surgery requires stitches, and recovery usually takes a few weeks. For many patients, shunt surgery provides an additional reliable option to lower eye pressure and protect vision.

Both of these surgeries may sound intimidating, but many people find comfort in knowing they give them a stronger chance of preserving their sight when other treatments aren’t enough.

In recent years, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) has become a useful option for many patients. MIGS procedures generally improve how easily aqueous humor fluid flows through the eye’s main natural drainage pathway. Surgeons perform the procedure using specially designed blades, catheters, or stents. It requires small incisions in the cornea, similar to those used for cataract surgery, as well as incisions in the eye’s internal drainage system. 

The approach typically leads to faster recovery times and fewer complications compared to traditional surgeries; however, it often does not result in the very low eye pressures sometimes required to control the disease process. It’s important to know, however, that MIGS is generally less effective at lowering eye pressure than more invasive procedures. For many people, however, MIGS strikes a helpful balance — offering added safety in exchange for less effective pressure lowering.

The cost of glaucoma treatments can feel overwhelming, but understanding what’s ahead makes it easier to prepare. Whether it’s daily eye drops, laser procedures, or surgery, knowing the average expenses and what insurance covers can help you plan with confidence and focus on protecting your vision.

Laser procedures for glaucoma usually cost between $1,000 and $2,000, while more involved surgeries average around $5,000, in addition to anesthesia costs and operating room fees. Traditional trabeculectomy surgery typically runs about $4,200, while newer options such as microshunt procedures may cost closer to $6,300. Tube shunts and drainage devices tend to be more expensive than trabeculectomy.

The good news is that most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover medically necessary glaucoma surgeries. That means you may only be responsible for deductibles, copays, or facility fees. If you’re facing surgery, your doctor’s office can give you a clearer idea of what your out-of-pocket costs will look like, so you can focus on what matters most — protecting your sight.

On average, prescription eye drops for glaucoma can cost anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars per month, depending on the brand, type of medication, and whether a generic version is available. Over the course of a year, that can add up to about $240 to $2,500 or more. The good news is that insurance and Medicare often cover a portion of these costs, and your doctor may be able to prescribe a lower-cost generic option or connect you with patient assistance programs to help make treatment more affordable.

Facing glaucoma treatment can feel daunting, but remember — you’re not walking this path alone. From laser treatments and minimally invasive procedures to more traditional surgeries, today’s options provide doctors with powerful tools to help protect your vision. The right choice will depend on your specific needs, and your care team will guide you every step of the way. 

Although surgery cannot bring back vision you’ve already lost, these treatments give you real hope by protecting the sight you still have — helping you stay independent, confident, and engaged in the life you love. With the right care and support, most people continue to live full, active lives despite a glaucoma diagnosis.

While there’s no cure for glaucoma, advancements in research continue to bring us closer to finding one and restoring vision loss. You can help find a cure by donating cash, stock, or a vehicle. Your support will give hope to those living with glaucoma and accelerate our search for a cure and vision restoration. 

The tireless work of researchers continues to enhance our understanding of glaucoma daily. As a result, there’s great hope for new and improved treatments, including innovative drug delivery methods, laser treatments, and less invasive surgical techniques. You can help make that happen!

Article posted on October 23, 2025. Reviewed for medical accuracy by Angelo P. Tanna, MD.