Treatment

When we find evidence of glaucoma, treatment is begun. Present day treatments are aimed at lowering the intraocular pressure to help prevent further pressure damage in the eye. Commonly, initial treatment involves daily use of eye drops, a laser treatment, or both. Sometimes several types of drops used every day are necessary to control glaucoma. As with any medication, eye drop medications can cause side effects. If you notice anything out of the ordinary after starting your drops, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Sometimes, drops alone are not enough and laser or surgery is required to treat the condition.

• Eye Drops
• Laser Surgery
• Ongoing Care
• Operative Surgery

 

Eye Drops

When recommended to treat glaucoma, using drops as prescribed, and using them every day is extremely important, even if it doesn't make the eyes feel different or help you see any better. We usually recommend that people set aside a certain time when they do another daily activity (i.e. meal time, when they brush their teeth, or bed time) every day to use their drops to guarantee drops are used, since the eyes often feel the same with or without the drops.

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Laser Surgery

In many cases, laser surgery can be beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma. There are several types of laser, which can be used to treat glaucoma. In most cases, the laser treatment is quick, with little or no discomfort. Depending on your condition, your doctor may feel that using the laser to treat your glaucoma may reduce your need for eye drops. If you have difficulty with your drops or don't respond well to them, this may be a good choice for you. Certain glaucoma conditions like narrow angle glaucoma require laser treatment to prevent complications down the road.

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Ongoing Care

Regular eye examinations are also extremely important for patients with glaucoma. These examinations help us to determine whether any additional treatment is required. Glaucoma can worsen without your being aware of it. Thus it's essential that you return to see your doctor according to his or her recommendations.

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Operative Surgery

For those who need it to control their glaucoma, a trip to the operating room can be helpful in controlling the condition. Surgery for glaucoma usually involves a microsurgical technique which creates a new channel through which fluid can drain out of the eye, lowering the eye pressure. After glaucoma surgery, people generally have to limit strenuous activities for several weeks and make frequent trips back to the doctor to be sure the surgery is healing as anticipated. Sometimes, additional surgery is required to assure the best result. If you need surgery for glaucoma, you will need to talk about the risks and benefits of the procedure with your doctor before you proceed.

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