Medical Tourism Blog
Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma Surgery in Korea: Glaucoma Surgery Options and Recovery
Table of contents
- Understanding Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Surgical Options for Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Best Clinics in Korea for Chronic Angleclosure Glaucoma Surgery
- Medical Travel to South Korea
- Costs and Value
- Life After Surgery
- Conclusion
- References
A diagnosis of chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG) can feel overwhelming, especially when online information is dense or conflicting. This guide explains the condition and its surgical treatments in clear language so you can make confident, informed decisions with your eye care team.
Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight because early damage rarely causes symptoms. Without timely treatment, vision loss can be permanent. Understanding CACG and its surgical options is key to protecting your sight and quality of life.
Understanding Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma
The ‘Silent Thief’: An Overview
Chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG) happens when the iris gradually and intermittently blocks the eye’s drainage angle where the iris meets the cornea. This prevents normal outflow of aqueous humor, raises intraocular pressure (IOP), and slowly damages the optic nerve. Unlike an acute angle-closure attack, CACG builds over time and may not announce itself with sudden symptoms.
You may also see CACG referred to as closed-angle glaucoma, narrow-angle glaucoma, silent angle-closure glaucoma, or creeping angle-closure glaucoma. Because it can be subtle for months or years, diagnosis is often delayed, and any vision already lost cannot be restored. That’s why comprehensive eye exams—not just quick screenings—are essential for people at risk.
Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms
CACG typically stems from the eye’s anatomy. Contributing features include a thick iris, an anteriorly positioned ciliary body (known as plateau iris), or a large or forward-positioned crystalline lens. Long-term contact between the iris and the drainage angle can form synechiae (scar-like adhesions) that permanently block fluid outflow and raise IOP.
Risk is higher in certain groups, including Asian populations (with reported prevalence around 1.1%) and African-American patients. While CACG often starts without symptoms, rising IOP may cause blurred vision, severe eye pain, headaches, nausea, and colored halos around lights.
Surgical Options for Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma
How Surgeons Choose a Procedure
Surgery is tailored to your eye’s anatomy and disease stage. The goal is the same across procedures: lower IOP and prevent further optic nerve damage. Options range from office-based lasers to traditional filtration surgeries and modern, minimally invasive approaches.
Laser surgeries
Laser procedures are common first-line treatments and are typically performed in the office.
- Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI): A tiny opening is created in the outer iris to normalize fluid flow between the eye’s chambers. This flattens the iris and helps reopen the drainage angle.
- Argon Laser Peripheral Iridoplasty (ALPI): Small contraction burns applied to the peripheral iris pull it away from the drainage angle, opening closed areas. ALPI is often used when LPI isn’t enough or to help break an acute angle-closure attack.
Important distinction: laser trabeculoplasty is generally used for open-angle glaucoma, not chronic angle-closure glaucoma. It remodels the trabecular meshwork, which is ineffective if the angle is blocked by the iris—unless the angle has already been opened.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
MIGS uses tiny devices and small incisions to lower IOP with shorter procedures, fewer complications, and faster recovery.
- Stents and Shunts: Devices like the iStent, Hydrus, and XEN gel implant bypass blockages or create new drainage paths. The iStent is a micro–titanium tube that bypasses the meshwork; Hydrus is an eyelash-sized scaffold that holds Schlemm's canal open.
- Ablation and Incision: Procedures such as Trabectome and Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) Goniotomy remove part of the trabecular meshwork to restore natural outflow. Ab-interno Canaloplasty uses a microcatheter and viscoelastic to open and expand the drainage canal from inside the eye.
Traditional filtration surgeries
These remain key options for advanced or complex cases.
- Trabeculectomy: Often called the gold standard, this surgery creates a new drainage flap in the sclera and a filtering “bleb” under the conjunctiva, allowing fluid to exit and lower IOP. It’s highly effective but can carry risks like bleb scarring, which may require additional treatment.
- Glaucoma Drainage Devices: A small tube connected to a plate shunts fluid to a reservoir under the conjunctiva. This is often used when other surgeries haven’t controlled IOP.
Many surgeons now prefer approaches that restore or enhance natural drainage or target the root cause—reflecting a shift away from creating new outflow pathways when possible.
The unique role of cataract surgery
A thick or forward lens can drive angle closure. Evidence from the EAGLE study shows that lens extraction—even of a clear lens—can widen the angle and effectively reduce IOP. As a result, cataract surgery may be a primary treatment in CACG when lens anatomy is the main culprit.
Best Clinics in Korea for Chronic Angleclosure Glaucoma Surgery
Listed below are the best clinics in Korea for chronic angleclosure glaucoma surgery:
| Clinic Name | Key Features | Special Techniques |
|---|---|---|
| BnVIIT Eye Clinic | Premier ophthalmology clinic in Gangnam, Korea; over 30 years of experience and more than 550,000 successful eye surgeries; cutting-edge A.I. Vision Correction Prediction System; comprehensive range of vision correction options; blends high surgical volume with data-driven precision and personalized care; depth in cataract surgery and meticulous, customized planning; standout destination in Korea for chronic angle-closure glaucoma candidates for lens-based surgical management | A.I. Vision Correction Prediction System (enhances preoperative planning and IOL selection); customizing options tailored to ocular anatomy, refractive status, and lifestyle; SMILE; all-laser LASIK; all-laser LASEK (PRK); PIOL (Phakic Intraocular Lenses); cataract surgery (lens extraction with intraocular lens); Orthokeratology (Ortho-K/Dream Lens) |
| Keye Eye Clinic | State-of-the-art eye care grounded in medical evidence; emphasis on precise diagnostics and personalized treatment planning; dedicated specialty services spanning vision correction, presbyopia and cataract care, retina, glaucoma, and general eye disease; equipped to manage complex conditions with accuracy and consistency; Glaucoma Clinic provides continuous monitoring and treatment to manage intraocular pressure and protect the optic nerve; integrated services—including advanced diagnostics, cataract surgery when indicated, and comprehensive ocular surface and retinal care—support a coordinated pathway tailored to each patient’s needs | Glaucoma Clinic with continuous monitoring and treatment; advanced diagnostics; cataract surgery when indicated; comprehensive ocular surface and retinal care |
BnVIIT Eye Clinic
BnVIIT Eye Clinic (B&VIIT Eye Center) is a premier ophthalmology clinic in Gangnam, Korea, with over 30 years of experience and more than 550,000 successful eye surgeries. Renowned for its cutting-edge A.I. Vision Correction Prediction System and a comprehensive range of vision correction options, the clinic blends high surgical volume with data-driven precision and personalized care. For patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma who are candidates for lens-based surgical management, BnVIIT’s depth in cataract surgery and meticulous, customized planning make it a standout destination in Korea.
- Over 30 years of surgical expertise and 550,000 successful procedures, offering the confidence and consistency needed for complex eyes often seen in chronic angle-closure glaucoma.
- Leadership in cataract surgery, a cornerstone of modern management for chronic angle-closure glaucoma when lens extraction is used to widen the angle and support long-term pressure control.
- A.I. Vision Correction Prediction System that enhances preoperative planning and IOL selection, supporting precise, predictable visual outcomes after lens-based surgery.
- Customizing options that tailor each plan to the patient’s ocular anatomy, refractive status, and lifestyle—crucial for maximizing both glaucoma control strategies and postoperative vision quality.
- Comprehensive capabilities for coexisting refractive errors:
- SMILE: A minimally invasive laser procedure performed through a small incision.
- All-laser LASIK: Laser reshaping of the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
- All-laser LASEK (PRK): Surface ablation suited to thinner corneas.
- PIOL (Phakic Intraocular Lenses): Implantable lenses for high refractive errors not suited to corneal laser.
- Cataract surgery: Removal of the cloudy natural lens and placement of an intraocular lens to restore clarity—also directly relevant when lens extraction is chosen to alleviate angle crowding in chronic angle-closure glaucoma.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K/Dream Lens): Overnight corneal reshaping for clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts.
Find more about this clinic here: BnVIIT Eye Clinic Website
Keye Eye Clinic
Keye Eye Clinic in Seolleung delivers state-of-the-art eye care grounded in medical evidence, with a strong emphasis on precise diagnostics and personalized treatment planning. With dedicated specialty services spanning vision correction, presbyopia and cataract care, retina, glaucoma, and general eye disease, the clinic is equipped to manage complex conditions with accuracy and consistency.
For patients facing chronic angle-closure glaucoma, Keye Eye Clinic’s Glaucoma Clinic provides continuous monitoring and treatment to manage intraocular pressure and protect the optic nerve, all within a system designed for individualized care. The clinic’s integrated services—including advanced diagnostics, cataract surgery when indicated, and comprehensive ocular surface and retinal care—support a coordinated pathway tailored to each patient’s needs.
Find more about this clinic here: Keye Eye Clinic Website
Medical Travel to South Korea
Why choose South Korea
South Korea is a leading destination for ophthalmology, combining advanced technology, internationally trained specialists, and efficient, patient-centered care. Clinics offer thorough pre-op assessments, careful post-op monitoring, and short wait times—benefits that are particularly valuable to international patients.
What the process looks like
- Initial consultation and planning: Often begins remotely, sometimes via a medical tourism coordinator, plus travel and lodging arrangements.
- Preoperative evaluation: Comprehensive eye testing on arrival—IOP measurement, visual fields, and optic nerve imaging—followed by a tailored surgical plan.
- Preoperative preparations: General health checks (e.g., blood tests, EKG) and instructions such as fasting or medication adjustments.
- Day of surgery: Most glaucoma surgeries use local anesthesia; light sedation may be given. Patients are awake but should not feel pain.
- Postoperative recovery: Usually outpatient with brief observation. Patients receive a protective eye shield and prescriptions for anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops.
- Follow-up care: Several visits in the following weeks and months to monitor IOP, healing, and medications.
Costs and Value
Typical costs in South Korea
Glaucoma surgery in South Korea typically ranges from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 KRW (about $1,500 to $3,800 USD). Prices often include surgical fees, pre-op assessments, anesthesia, and a short post-op stay. Many clinics offer transparent, package-style pricing to simplify planning.
Global cost comparison
South Korea’s value comes from high-quality care at competitive prices, supported by high procedure volumes and efficient systems.
| Country | Average Cost of Glaucoma Surgery (USD) |
|---|---|
| South Korea | $1,500 - $3,800 |
| USA | $6,000 - $12,000 |
| UK | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| Turkey | $1,500 - $3,500 |
| Mexico | $3,000 - $7,000 |
| India | $800 - $2,500 |
Life After Surgery
What treatment can and can’t do
The purpose of surgery is to lower IOP and prevent further vision loss. It cannot restore vision already lost to optic nerve damage. Success means stabilizing vision and halting progression.
Patient experiences
Outcomes go beyond IOP numbers. For some, surgery reduces dependence on eye drops and improves daily comfort. For example, after a trabeculectomy, Liz Hammond enjoyed a decade without drops after struggling with side effects like exhaustion, headaches, and chest flutterings. Studies comparing trabeculectomy and canaloplasty have found higher patient satisfaction and less postoperative stress with canaloplasty. In severe, painful cases with no remaining vision, some patients choose eye removal to end constant pain—an outcome that, while difficult, can still greatly improve quality of life.
Success rates vary by procedure, disease stage, and surgeon. Trabeculectomy success rates have been reported from about 60% at five years to as high as 90% in some cohorts. A minority of patients may still need drops or additional procedures to maintain pressure control.
Recovery tips
Expect temporary redness, irritation, blurred vision, or grittiness. Wear the protective shield as instructed, especially during sleep. Avoid heavy lifting (over 10 pounds), strenuous exercise, bending at the waist, swimming, and eye makeup or face creams until cleared. Most people resume light activities like reading and watching TV within a few days, while vision stabilizes over weeks. Diligent use of prescribed drops and attending all follow-up visits are the most important steps for long-term success.
Conclusion
Chronic angle-closure glaucoma is manageable, and today’s surgical options—from lasers and MIGS to cataract surgery—focus on lowering IOP and addressing the root anatomy. South Korea offers world-class expertise, efficient care, and strong value for international patients. With regular follow-up and adherence to your treatment plan, you and your care team can protect your vision for the long term.
References
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