Medical, laser, and surgical glaucoma management from a fellowship-trained specialist. Monitoring, SLT laser, and minimally invasive surgery available in Colchester.
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If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, or if your optician has flagged raised eye pressure or changes to your optic nerve, the most important thing to know is that treatment works. Glaucoma cannot be cured and vision already lost cannot be recovered. But with the right monitoring and treatment, the vision you have now can be preserved for the long term.
Treatment has progressed well beyond daily eye drops. SLT laser can reduce eye pressure without drops. Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) can be performed alongside cataract surgery to lower pressure and reduce drop dependence. Mr Mukherjee holds a fellowship in glaucoma surgery and manages glaucoma patients both privately and within the NHS in Colchester. Whether you need monitoring, a change in treatment, or surgical intervention, the full range of options is available locally.
Glaucoma is a group of conditions where the optic nerve, the cable that carries visual information from the eye to the brain, becomes progressively damaged. The most common cause is raised intraocular pressure (IOP), which builds up when the fluid inside the eye does not drain properly.
The damage happens gradually and usually affects peripheral (side) vision first. Because the central vision remains clear in the early stages, many patients do not notice anything is wrong until significant damage has occurred. This is why glaucoma is sometimes called the "silent thief of sight." By the time symptoms become noticeable, the nerve damage is irreversible. Regular eye pressure checks and optic nerve assessments are the only reliable way to catch glaucoma early.
Risk factors include age (over 40, with risk increasing with each decade), family history of glaucoma, high myopia (short-sightedness), African or Caribbean heritage, and raised eye pressure detected during routine eye tests.
Every glaucoma treatment shares the same goal: lower the pressure inside the eye to a level that stops or slows further optic nerve damage. The right approach depends on the type and severity of your glaucoma, how well your current treatment is working, and whether you have other eye conditions that need addressing at the same time.
Medicated eye drops that reduce eye pressure are the most common starting point. Several types are available, and Mr Mukherjee will prescribe the one that suits your pressure level and tolerance. Drops are effective for many patients, but they require daily use, sometimes multiple times a day, for life. Side effects can include redness, stinging, and changes to the appearance of the eyelids and lashes. Compliance is one of the biggest challenges in glaucoma management: missed doses mean uncontrolled pressure, which means ongoing nerve damage.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) uses targeted laser energy to improve the natural drainage of fluid from the eye. The procedure takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, is performed in the clinic under anaesthetic drops, and is painless. SLT is now recommended by NICE as a first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma, meaning it can be used instead of drops, not only when drops have failed.
SLT typically reduces eye pressure by 20 to 30%. The effect lasts 3 to 5 years in most patients and the treatment can be repeated safely if needed. For patients who struggle with daily drop compliance, experience side effects from drops, or simply prefer a treatment that does not require daily self-administration, SLT offers a practical alternative.
MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery) refers to a group of procedures that lower eye pressure through tiny devices or micro-incisions that improve fluid outflow. MIGS procedures are less invasive than traditional glaucoma surgery, have shorter recovery times, and carry a lower risk of complications.
Mr Mukherjee performs MIGS procedures including Preserflo MicroShunt, iStent, and GATT (gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy) at our Colchester Eye Centre. MIGS can often be combined with cataract surgery in a single procedure for patients who need both, reducing the total number of operations and lowering eye pressure at the same time as restoring clear vision.
MIGS is particularly suited to patients with mild to moderate glaucoma whose pressure is not adequately controlled by drops or SLT, patients who want to reduce their dependence on daily drops, and patients undergoing cataract surgery who have co-existing glaucoma.
Trabeculectomy is the traditional surgical treatment for glaucoma. It creates a new drainage channel in the wall of the eye, allowing fluid to drain into a small reservoir (a "bleb") under the conjunctiva. This procedure achieves the greatest pressure reduction and is reserved for patients with advanced glaucoma or those whose pressure cannot be controlled by drops, laser, or MIGS.
Recovery from trabeculectomy takes longer than MIGS, and post-operative monitoring is more intensive. The procedure carries higher risks than MIGS, including infection and over-drainage, but for patients with aggressive or advanced disease, it remains the most effective way to achieve very low target pressures.
Many glaucoma patients also have cataracts, corneal conditions, or complex eyes that need more than one type of expertise. A combined cataract and MIGS procedure, for example, requires a surgeon comfortable with both lens surgery and glaucoma drainage techniques. A patient with keratoconus and raised eye pressure needs a surgeon who understands corneal biomechanics as well as glaucoma management.
Mr Mukherjee's triple fellowship (laser refractive surgery, corneal transplant, and glaucoma) means he covers all three areas without referring between specialists. For patients with straightforward open-angle glaucoma managed by drops and monitoring, any qualified glaucoma specialist can provide excellent care. For patients whose glaucoma sits alongside other eye conditions, the breadth of Mr Mukherjee's training becomes a practical advantage.
Glaucoma is a lifelong condition. Even after successful treatment, regular monitoring is needed to ensure the pressure remains controlled and no further nerve damage is occurring. Mr Mukherjee uses OCT (optical coherence tomography) to image the optic nerve and retinal nerve fibre layer, visual field testing to map any changes in peripheral vision, tonometry to measure intraocular pressure, and gonioscopy to assess the drainage angle.
These tests are compared over time. Small changes that might not be significant on their own become meaningful when tracked across months and years. Seeing the same specialist at every monitoring appointment means the person interpreting your scans is the one who already knows your baseline and your treatment history.
Follow-up intervals depend on the severity and stability of your glaucoma. Newly diagnosed or recently treated patients are typically seen every 1 to 3 months. Stable patients may move to 6-monthly or annual reviews.
Mr Mukherjee's glaucoma fellowship training covers medical management, SLT laser, MIGS, and trabeculectomy. He manages glaucoma patients both privately and within the NHS, where he serves as Consultant and Clinical Lead at Colchester Eye Centre.
Eye drops, SLT laser, Preserflo, iStent, GATT, and trabeculectomy are all available. The treatment plan starts with the least invasive option and progresses only if needed. You are not limited to drops or referred elsewhere for surgery.
If you have cataracts alongside glaucoma, Mr Mukherjee can perform combined cataract and MIGS surgery in a single procedure, lowering eye pressure and restoring clear vision at the same time.
Glaucoma requires repeated imaging and pressure checks over years. Seeing the same consultant at every appointment means the person reading your scans already knows your baseline, your treatment history, and what a meaningful change looks like for your eyes.
Glaucoma treatment costs vary depending on the type of intervention. Monitoring consultations, SLT laser, MIGS procedures, and trabeculectomy each carry different pricing. Combined cataract and MIGS procedures are priced to reflect both elements of the surgery.
Mr Mukherjee provides a written quote during your consultation based on the treatment plan your eyes need. There are no hidden fees. Payment options are available.
Some private health insurance policies cover glaucoma consultations and treatment. The practice team can help you check your coverage.
For a quote based on your treatment plan, the free consultation is the place to start.
Or call 01206 670712
No obligation. Your quote is confirmed after your assessment.
The difference between managed and unmanaged glaucoma is measured in decades of sight. Ten years of consistent monitoring and treatment means ten years of preserved vision, continued driving, continued reading, continued independence. Ten years without treatment, or with inconsistent treatment, means progressive, irreversible loss that cannot be undone. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma or told your eye pressure is raised, the next step is an assessment with a specialist. It is a single appointment, and it sets the course for the next ten years and beyond.
No referral needed. No obligation.
