Glaucoma
Consultant-led glaucoma diagnosis, monitoring and surgery
Ms Tahmina Pearsall is a UK-trained consultant ophthalmic surgeon with specialist expertise in medical, laser and surgical management of every form of glaucoma — from routine open-angle disease to complex angle-closure and post-surgical care.
Explore glaucoma topics
What is Glaucoma?
An introduction to glaucoma — a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve and can cause gradual, irreversible vision loss.
Read more →Being a 'Glaucoma Suspect'
What it means to be monitored as a glaucoma suspect — the risk factors, tests and follow-up involved.
Read more →Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma
How narrowing of the drainage angle causes acute or chronic angle-closure glaucoma, and how it is treated.
Read more →Laser Iridotomy
A quick outpatient YAG laser procedure that creates a tiny opening in the iris to prevent angle closure.
Read more →Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
A gentle first-line laser treatment for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Read more →Cyclodiode Laser
A laser treatment that lowers eye pressure by reducing fluid production from the ciliary body.
Read more →Trabeculectomy
The long-established 'gold standard' glaucoma operation, creating a guarded drainage channel out of the eye.
Read more →Bleb Needling
A minor in-clinic procedure to restore drainage when a trabeculectomy bleb starts to scar down.
Read more →Shunt (Tube) Surgery
Silicone-tube drainage surgery for complex glaucoma or eyes with previous surgery.
Read more →PRESERFLO MicroShunt
A modern micro-shunt implant offering pressure control similar to trabeculectomy with a more predictable recovery.
Read more →Pigmentary Glaucoma
A form of glaucoma in which pigment from the iris clogs the eye's drainage, typically in younger, short-sighted adults.
Read more →Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma
A more aggressive form of open-angle glaucoma caused by flaky material blocking the eye's drainage.
Read more →Visual Field Assessment
How visual field testing checks your central and peripheral vision to detect and monitor eye disease.
Read more →Driving with Glaucoma
Guidance on driving with glaucoma and when the DVLA needs to be notified in the UK.
Read more →Concerned about glaucoma?
Early diagnosis is the most important step. Book a consultation for a full glaucoma assessment including pressure check, OCT imaging and visual field testing.
Book a ConsultationGlaucoma — frequently asked questions
- What are the early symptoms of glaucoma?
- Early open-angle glaucoma usually has no symptoms — vision loss creeps in from the periphery and often goes unnoticed until it is advanced. Regular eye tests with pressure and OCT checks are the only reliable way to catch it early.
- How much does private glaucoma treatment cost in the UK?
- A consultant-led glaucoma assessment (pressure, OCT and visual field) typically costs £250–£450. SLT laser is around £700–£1,200 per eye, and glaucoma surgery ranges from £3,500 to £6,500 per eye depending on the procedure.
- Is SLT laser a permanent glaucoma treatment?
- SLT (selective laser trabeculoplasty) usually lowers eye pressure for 2–5 years and can be safely repeated. It is often used as a first-line treatment to reduce reliance on daily eye drops.
- What is the difference between trabeculectomy, PRESERFLO and shunt surgery?
- Trabeculectomy creates a new drainage channel under the conjunctiva; PRESERFLO uses a tiny tube to drain fluid to a bleb; a shunt (e.g. Baerveldt, Ahmed) uses a larger silicone plate for advanced or refractory glaucoma. The right choice depends on your glaucoma type, pressure targets and previous surgery.
- Can I have cataract and glaucoma surgery at the same time?
- Yes — combined cataract and MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) is often the best option for patients with both conditions, lowering eye pressure and improving vision in one procedure.