Hospitals Offering Glaucoma Surgery in the United States: A Comprehensive National Guide

The Scale of Glaucoma Surgery in the United States

Glaucoma remains one of the most significant ophthalmic public health challenges in the United States. Globally, 4.22 million adults in the United States alone are living with glaucoma, with 1.49 million facing vision-threatening disease, underscoring the urgent need for modern surgical options. 1 The glaucoma surgery devices market reflects this demand, estimated at USD 1.21 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 1.64 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.27% during the forecast period. 1 North America holds the position as the largest market within this global segment, driven by high procedure volumes and expanding access to minimally invasive technologies.

Momentum in the surgical landscape is fueled by the rapid adoption of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), the growing pool of diagnosed patients, and technological advancements including automated laser systems and artificial intelligence-guided microsurgery. 1 These factors are increasing procedure volumes not just in flagship academic centers but also in community ophthalmology clinics and ambulatory surgery centers across all 50 states. Common surgical procedures performed in US hospitals include trabeculectomy, tube shunt implantation, MIGS, and cyclophotocoagulation. 2

Leading Academic Medical Centers and Specialty Institutes

Several nationally recognized institutions are widely regarded as leaders in glaucoma surgical research and clinical treatment. The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Health System is recognized as a national leader in glaucoma treatment and lists glaucoma surgery, including traditional and minimally invasive approaches, as a core clinical service. 3 Duke Eye Center provides comprehensive glaucoma surgical services including MIGS, trabeculectomy, and implant procedures, with fellowship-trained specialists such as Dr. Sanjay G. Asrani, MD, who holds a rating of 4.96 out of 5 and specializes in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery at Duke Eye Center in Durham and Cary, North Carolina. 4

Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, affiliated with Jefferson Health, is a leading specialty center for glaucoma surgery with multiple surgical treatment options available. 5 Mayo Clinic offers advanced glaucoma surgery including MIGS and traditional procedures performed by specialty-trained ophthalmologists. 6 Johns Hopkins Medicine, through its Wilmer Eye Institute, provides comprehensive glaucoma surgical services encompassing both minimally invasive and traditional surgical approaches, with faculty members such as Dr. Suzy Chen, OD, serving on the glaucoma team. 7

Major Health Systems with Dedicated Glaucoma Programs

Mass General Brigham, operating primarily through Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, Massachusetts, maintains a dedicated Glaucoma Service and Ophthalmology Laser Service at multiple locations including 800 Huntington Avenue and 243 Charles Street. 8 Specialists on this service, such as Dr. Michael M. Lin, MD, rated 4.8568 across 215 reviews, perform a wide range of procedures including MIGS and treat all forms of glaucoma in adults. 8 Dr. Courtney Lynne Ondeck, MD, MPhil, also at Mass General Brigham, performs both traditional glaucoma surgeries such as trabeculectomy and glaucoma tube shunts, as well as MIGS and cataract surgery. 9

Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute, located at 2022 East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, performs all major glaucoma surgeries including trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage implants, and MIGS procedures. 10 Dr. Mary Qiu, MD, a glaucoma specialist at Cleveland Clinic with fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic itself and residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, holds board certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology and has disclosed active consulting relationships with emerging glaucoma device companies. 11 The University of Michigan Health W.K. Kellogg Eye Center is also a nationally recognized leader in vision care, research, and education, combining clinical glaucoma surgery with active scientific investigation. 12

Regional and University-Based Programs Across the Country

UCSF Health in San Francisco, California, offers glaucoma surgery through its Department of Ophthalmology, with Dr. Yvonne Ou, MD, co-directing UCSF's glaucoma division. Her surgical expertise includes minimally invasive procedures, filtering surgery, and drainage implant surgery, in addition to combined cataract and glaucoma surgery. 13 Dr. Ou completed her glaucoma fellowship at Duke University Medical Center and holds board certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology, reflecting the depth of subspecialty training typically expected at major university programs. 13

At the University of Utah's John A. Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City, Dr. Roya Garakani, DO, specializes in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma as well as complex anterior segment surgeries. She serves as section chief of ophthalmology for the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and accepts patients at both the university's main campus and its Park City location. 14 In Florida, Bascom Palmer's Dr. Ta Chen Peter Chang, MD, rated 4.9 across 264 reviews, serves as Medical Director of the Samuel and Ethel Balkan International Pediatric Glaucoma Center and holds a Castle Connolly Top Ophthalmologist designation for 2023, covering pediatric glaucoma alongside adult cases. 15 NYU Langone Health's ophthalmology department similarly lists glaucoma surgical care as part of its patient-facing services. 16

Procedure Types, Costs, Insurance, and Eligibility Considerations

Glaucoma surgery costs in the United States typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 per eye depending on the procedure type and facility. 2 Medicare covers glaucoma surgery when medically necessary, and most private insurance plans provide coverage after conservative treatment attempts such as eye drops and laser therapy have been exhausted. 2 The American Academy of Ophthalmology maintains a directory of board-certified ophthalmologists who specialize in glaucoma surgery across all 50 states, which can assist patients in verifying credentials before scheduling consultations. 17

Risks, Limitations, and Patient Evaluation Realities

Patients evaluating glaucoma surgery should understand that the procedure type recommended depends heavily on the stage and subtype of glaucoma, the individual's intraocular pressure targets, prior treatment history, and overall ocular anatomy. MIGS procedures, which have expanded access to surgical options at smaller hospitals and community ophthalmology centers across the United States, are generally reserved for mild to moderate glaucoma and are frequently combined with cataract surgery. 2 Traditional surgeries such as trabeculectomy carry higher complication risks, including infection, hypotony, and bleb-related complications, but may achieve greater pressure reduction in advanced disease.

It is also important for patients to recognize that glaucoma surgery arrests progression rather than restoring vision already lost. Because most types of glaucoma do not cause symptoms in the early stages, once vision is lost it cannot be restored, making early diagnosis and timely intervention critical. 18 Fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists at academic centers typically have the broadest procedural repertoire, but community-based surgeons certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology increasingly offer MIGS in local settings, reducing the need to travel long distances for care. Dr. Susie Drake, MD, at Watertown Regional Medical Center in Wisconsin, for example, offers MIGS locally, stating that the technique allows patients access to a procedure that helps preserve their vision without requiring more invasive surgery. 19 Patients are advised to discuss eligibility criteria, expected outcomes, and follow-up requirements thoroughly with a qualified ophthalmologist before proceeding.

Sources

1. Mordor Intelligence - Glaucoma Surgery Devices Market Size and Share Analysis (mordorintelligence.com)
2. General Research Data - Glaucoma Surgery in US Hospitals: Procedures, Costs, and Coverage
3. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System (bascompalmer.org)
4. Duke Health - Sanjay G. Asrani, MD, Glaucoma Specialist (dukehealth.org)
5. Wills Eye Hospital, Jefferson Health (willseye.org)
6. Mayo Clinic - Glaucoma Care at Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org)
7. Johns Hopkins Medicine - Wilmer Eye Institute, Suzy Chen OD Profile (profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org)
8. Mass General Brigham - Dr. Michael M. Lin, MD, Mass Eye and Ear Glaucoma Service (doctors.massgeneralbrigham.org)
9. Mass General Brigham - Dr. Courtney Lynne Ondeck, MD, MPhil (doctors.massgeneralbrigham.org)
10. Cleveland Clinic - Glaucoma Treatment and Surgery (my.clevelandclinic.org)
11. Cleveland Clinic - Dr. Mary Qiu, MD, Cole Eye Institute (providers.clevelandclinic.org)
12. University of Michigan Health - W.K. Kellogg Eye Center (uofmhealth.org)
13. UCSF Health - Yvonne Ou, MD, Glaucoma Division (ucsfhealth.org)
14. University of Utah Health - Roya Garakani, DO, John A. Moran Eye Center (healthcare.utah.edu)
15. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute - Dr. Ta Chen Peter Chang, MD (bascompalmer-doctors.umiamihealth.org)
16. NYU Langone Health - Glaucoma Treatment (nyulangone.org)
17. American Academy of Ophthalmology - Eye Care Provider Directory (aao.org)
18. Westlake Eye Specialists - Interventional Glaucoma Austin (westlakeeyes.com)
19. Watertown Regional Medical Center - Dr. Susie Drake, MD, MIGS (watertownregional.com)