Treatment for glaucoma depends on the nature and severity of each case. In general glaucoma cannot be completely cured, but it can be controlled. Most treatments for glaucoma are designed to reduce or control intraocular pressure (IOP), which can damage the optic nerve that transmits visual information to the brain. With any type of glaucoma, regular eye examinations are very important.
Glaucoma Modes of Treatment:
Medicine
Glaucoma is often treated with eye drops that are taken regularly several times a day. The eye drops help alter the circulation of the eye fluid and lower eye pressure, by either decreasing the production of fluid within the eye or by increasing the flow leaving the drainage angle. Because glaucoma can worsen over time without you being aware of it, your treatment will likely change in order to achieve a lower eye pressure.
Laser Surgery
Laser surgery is also effective for glaucoma treatment. Trabeculoplasty is a type of laser treatment that enhances eye drainage function to help control eye pressure within the eye when treating open-angle glaucoma. Iridotomy is a laser treatment that makes tiny holes in the iris to help improve the flow of eye fluid to the drain when treating narrow angle
Operative Surgery
If eye drops and laser therapy treatment have not been successful in lowering the eye pressure, your doctor might suggest operative surgery, where a new bypass drainage tunnel will be created using a microscope and specialized instruments, in order for the eye fluid to leave the eye.
