The diagnosis:
Glaucoma, with slight but measurable vision loss in the left eye.
The definition:
"Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve... Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma. One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure [that's me], while another person may have high eye pressure for years and yet never develop damage. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve...which can progress to blindness."
The recommendation:
Reduce the pressure as much as possible. Since laser surgery and multiple medications have not worked well enough, the next step is filtering microsurgery, i.e. trabeculectomy.
The procedure:
During trabeculectomy a piece of tissue in the drainage angle of the eye is removed, creating an opening. The opening is partially covered with a flap of tissue... This new opening allows aqueous humor to drain out of the eye, bypassing the clogged drainage channels of the trabecular meshwork.
The weird diagram:
The risks:
Bleeding, infection, swelling, scarring, retinal detachment, a droopy eyelid, double vision, loss of vision or even loss of the eye.
The result:
I'll let you know...
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