Glaucoma Surgery Cost in India

As stated above, there are various factors that are considered while calculating the glaucoma surgery cost. These factors are explained below- 

1: Type of Glaucoma

There are different types of glaucoma- open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, and pigmentary glaucoma. Each type of glaucoma requires intervention, but the method of surgery varies depending on the type of glaucoma. Thus, the expense of the treatment slightly differs.

2: Diagnostic Tests

To check for glaucoma, the eye specialist may recommend one or more of the following tests- 

• Dilated eye exam to widen the pupils and see the optic nerve. 
• Gonioscopy is the exam performed to check the angle where the iris and cornea meet. 
• OCT, optical coherence tomography, is done to check the optic nerve and look for changes that may indicate glaucoma. 
• An ocular pressure test, also known as tonometry, is done to measure eye pressure accurately. 
• If the eye pressure is high, the eye doctor will also perform a visual field test to check if your peripheral vision is alright. 
• A pachymetry test will also be done to measure the thickness of the cornea. 

Some of these tests, such as visual field tests, pupil dilation, etc., cost around Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,000, whereas others, such as OCT, may cost around Rs. 1,250 to Rs. 2,500 per eye. 

3: Choice of Hospital 

Eye care is available at multispecialty hospitals as well as super specialty hospitals. The expense of glaucoma treatment is usually higher at super-specialty hospitals as they have only one source of revenue. Therefore, choosing a multispecialty hospital will be better because the treatment will be more affordable there. 

You can also consider getting treatment for glaucoma at a government hospital as they will charge less than private hospitals for glaucoma surgery. 

4: Location or City Where You Are Getting Treatment 

The cost of glaucoma treatment differs significantly depending on your city. In general, medical care costs more in metropolitan cities compared to tertiary cities. If you get treatment in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, etc., the cost will be higher than in cities like Jaipur, Ranchi, Indore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, etc. 

5: Overall Eye Health 

Some patients may also have cataracts, retinal tears, or other eye disorders along with glaucoma. If so, then the doctor will have to address those disorders, which will increase the overall cost of glaucoma surgery. 

6: Surgeon’s Fee 

A highly qualified ophthalmologist with more experience is likely to charge more for glaucoma surgery than a less experienced doctor. The eye surgeon’s consultation and operating fees will vary based on his/her experience. This may increase or decrease the cost of glaucoma surgery to a certain extent. 

7: Hospitalization Expense 

From admission to discharge, there are many expenses that are covered in the hospital bill. It includes OT charges, ICU, recovery room, nursing, medical consumables, medications, and room rent. 

Generally, glaucoma surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, but if the case is serious, the doctor may advise an overnight stay for monitoring. This can influence the glaucoma treatment cost significantly. 

8: Post-op Care & Follow-ups 

Even after the surgery is complete, you will still have to bear some other expenses after surgery, such as medications, eyeglasses, and follow-up consultations. The medications will be required for at least a month. You may have to continue the medicines for a longer period if necessary. 

Moreover, you will have to see the doctor again after surgery to ensure that the eyes are healing properly and there are no signs of post-op complications. Thus, the patient will have to pay for these consultations too.