Glaucoma is known as the “silent eye disease” because progression of the disease slowly steals peripheral vision. In many cases, people do not realize the effects of the condition until a significant amount of irreversible vision loss has occurred. The sneaky nature of this glaucoma makes it a difficult one to live with. Luckily, the majority of cases of glaucoma are very treatable, and vision loss can be easily avoided. The main approach for treating glaucoma revolves around controlling the intraocular pressure inside the eye and reducing the risk of damage to the optic nerve. From topical medications such as eye drops, to routine surgical options, there are many possibilities for the treatment of glaucoma by controlling the pressure. Working closely with your eye care professional will allow you to identify the treatment method that works best for you. Read on to learn more about some possible treatment options for glaucoma.
Treating Glaucoma with Eye Drops
Topical medications are commonly thought of as the first line of treatment for glaucoma. There are several classes of eye drops that are used to treat glaucoma, each affecting the eye in different ways. Glaucoma drops work to lower the intraocular pressure by either decreasing the amount of fluid produced, or increase the drainage rate of fluid inside the eye. The number of medicated eye drops required depends heavily on how effective they are working to lower the intraocular pressure; if the disease is easily controlled, one medication may be enough. On the other hand, in more resilient glaucoma cases, two or three different medications may be required. Glaucoma drops can be used in conjunction with other medicated eye drops, such as those treating dry eye, as long as an adequate amount of time is given between instillation of drops. In many cases of glaucoma, simple topical medications are effective enough to prevent vision loss from occurring.
Surgical Options
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, also known as MIGS, have recently become a more popular option in the treatment of glaucoma. There are several forms of MIGS treatments which can include tiny devices implanted in the eye surgically by an ophthalmologist to help drain fluid and lower the intraocular pressure. In some cases, these minimally invasive options can be performed concurrently with cataract surgery. MIGS treatment options may not eliminate the need for topical glaucoma drops, but they can help reduce the risk of vision loss due to glaucoma, especially in particularly difficult cases of glaucoma.
Laser Treatments for Glaucoma
Another treatment option includes a laser surgery procedure known as a trabeculoplasty. During this laser surgery, an ophthalmologist uses a carefully controlled high energy laser to improve drainage of fluid inside the eye, thereby significantly decreasing the intraocular pressure. This treatment option is particularly useful for those patients who are unable to consistently put in eye drops. However, laser surgery for the treatment of glaucoma may need repeated after several years, or may require additionally treatment with medicated eye drops in the future.
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with glaucoma, it is important to understand that this is a treatable condition. Your eye doctor can find an effective treatment option to prevent vision loss from glaucoma from occurring.
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