MIGS: Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
In Baldwin Park and the San Gabriel Valley
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery lowers eye pressure through tiny incisions, often at the same time as cataract surgery.
Lower eye pressure with less downtime
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or MIGS, lowers eye pressure through tiny incisions. Compared with traditional glaucoma surgery, recovery is usually faster and the risks are lower. MIGS can often be done at the same time as cataract surgery.
Dr. Philip Ngai is a fellowship trained glaucoma specialist who performs a wide range of MIGS procedures and teaches other surgeons about them. Learn more about how we diagnose and manage glaucoma on our glaucoma care page.
How MIGS works
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, most often because fluid inside the eye does not drain well and pressure builds up. MIGS procedures improve the eye’s natural drainage or reduce how much fluid the eye makes. Options include:
Dr. Ngai chooses the procedure based on your type and stage of glaucoma, your eye pressure goal and your other eye conditions.
- Tiny stents that open a channel into the eye’s natural drain
- Canal procedures that open and stretch the drainage canal around the eye
- Tissue removal procedures that remove a strip of the blocked drainage meshwork
- Drug delivery implants that slowly release glaucoma medicine inside the eye for months, which can reduce the need for daily drops
Who is a candidate?
Advanced glaucoma sometimes needs traditional surgery such as a trabeculectomy or tube shunt, which Dr. Ngai also performs.
- Mild to moderate open angle glaucoma
- Glaucoma and a cataract that needs surgery
- Trouble using drops, side effects from drops or high drop costs
- Pressure that is not at goal on drops or laser
What to expect
MIGS is an outpatient procedure at a nearby surgery center, usually under light sedation with numbing drops. Most patients return to normal daily activities within a few days. You will use drops for a few weeks and see us for follow up visits to check your pressure.
For glaucoma that needs more pressure lowering, bio-interventional glaucoma surgery uses natural donor tissue to support the eye’s second drainage pathway.
Insurance coverage
MIGS is a medical treatment for glaucoma. Medicare and most insurance plans cover it when it is medically necessary, subject to your deductible and copay. See surgery costs and insurance for more.
Take the next step. It’s easy.
Related care to consider
MIGS FAQs
Will MIGS cure my glaucoma?
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. MIGS lowers pressure to protect your optic nerve. You will still need regular glaucoma checkups, and some patients still need drops.
Can I stop my eye drops after MIGS?
Many patients use fewer drops after MIGS, and some stop completely. It depends on how much your pressure drops and what your target pressure is.
Is MIGS painful?
Most patients feel little or no pain during or after the procedure. Mild scratchiness for a few days is common.
Can MIGS be done with cataract surgery?
Yes. Many MIGS procedures are done during cataract surgery through the same small incision, so you treat both problems with one recovery.
Let’s take care of your eyes
Call, text or request an appointment online. We verify your insurance before your visit.
3000 Big Dalton Ave, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and some Saturdays