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Cataract develops when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy as we get older.

When cataracts cause visual difficulty, cataract surgery is recommended.

During the surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and then replaced with an artificial intraocular lens to regain normal vision.

Glaucoma is an eye disease of increased pressure inside the eye.

The high eye pressure damages the optic nerve, which is the nerve that sends images from the eye to the brain.

Glaucoma diminishes the vision gradually and if untreated will eventually cause permanent blindness.

The most common type of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma with high eye pressure due to resistance to fluid drainage from the eye. It is treated with medicine, laser and surgery.

Dr. Ho's previous three columns:

Macular degeneration:Focus on Eyes: Know the signs of age-related macular degeneration

Cataract choices:Focus on Eyes: A patient can choose from several kinds of lens implants for cataract surgery

Diabetes affects eyes, too:Focus on Eyes: Diabetes and the eyes; pioneering Hispanic ophthalmologist celebrated

Cataracts and glaucoma are the two most common eye diseases in the United States.

Both diseases are more prevalent in the older population.

Many people have both cataracts and glaucoma at the same time.

When glaucoma is not adequately controlled and the cataract makes it hard to see, your ophthalmologist may recommend combined glaucoma and cataract surgery.

The combined surgery requires one visit to the operating room so it is more convenient, lower risk and more cost effective.

The glaucoma surgery, trabeculectomy or tube shunt surgery, helps to lower the eye pressure and prevents further damage to the optic nerve.

Many patients will have less need for glaucoma medicine.

Sometimes there is a pressure rise after cataract surgery. With simultaneous glaucoma surgery, the eye pressure is stable during the post operative period.

For patients with glaucoma that are well controlled, when the cataracts are sufficiently cloudy to need surgery, they may benefit from minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or MIGS, at the same time.

These new glaucoma procedures use the same cataract incision to enter the eye.

Most MIGS surgeries involve removing the area of resistance of eye fluid outflow or bypassing it with small stents.

The healing process is about the same as cataract surgery.

Many people will have good vision and require less or no medicine for glaucoma when the eyes heal.

The treatment of glaucoma and cataract in each patient is an individual and personalized decision.

The ophthalmologist and the patient working together will determine if cataract surgery alone, glaucoma surgery by itself or combined cataract and glaucoma surgery is the best treatment option.

Dr. Frederick Ho, the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MD is located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.