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Treatments for Glaucoma

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

En Español (Spanish Version)

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The management of glaucoma depends on the type, the underlying cause, and the severity of the disease. Treatment may involve medications in the form of eye drops or oral medications, laser procedures, or surgery.

Glaucoma cannot be cured. The focus and goal of treatment is to control the disease and prevent or slow any further visual damage from occurring.

Numerous studies have shown that lowering the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) decreases the risk of glaucoma progression. Just how much to lower the pressure and exactly how to do it is different for everyone. In some cases, you and your doctor may decide against treatment and opt to monitor your eyes for disease progression. If your doctor prescribes treatment, it is important that you follow the regimen as closely as possible.

Treatment involves the following:

Medications

Surgery

REFERENCES:

Angle-closure glaucoma. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T901114/Angle-closure-glaucoma. Updated July 15, 2016. Accessed February 12, 2018.

Facts about glaucoma. National Eye Institute website. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts. Updated September 2015. Accessed February 12, 2018.

Glaucoma treatment. American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: http://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/glaucoma-treatment. Updated March 1, 2017. Accessed February 12, 2018.

Open-angle glaucoma. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114157/Open-angle-glaucoma. Updated January 24, 2018. Accessed February 2, 2018.

Weinreb RN, Khaw PT. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Lancet. 2004;363(9422):1711-1720.

What is glaucoma? American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: http://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucoma. Updated March 1, 2017. Accessed February 12, 2018.

What is glaucoma? Glaucoma Research Foundation website. Available at: http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma. Accessed February 12, 2018.

Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD Last Updated: 3/15/2015

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EDUCATION

Treatments for Glaucoma

REFERENCES: