Glaucoma Treatment

Many of you have heard of glaucoma, but you might not be familiar with the different options there are for treatment. While glaucoma can’t be cured, it can be treated with eye drops, laser treatment, injectables, or surgery. While the treatments available are effective, new treatments are continuously being researched in order to improve results, compliance, and to reduce side effects and frequency or use.

What is the Goal of Glaucoma Treatment?

Understanding the goal of glaucoma treatment is essential. While glaucoma is not curable, it can be managed to significantly slow its progression. Glaucoma is when the pressure inside the eye is too high, which then damages the optic nerve in the eye. This then leads to the very slow loss of peripheral vision. Reducing this pressure, known as intraocular pressure (IOP), is the main focus of treatment.

Challenges of Traditional Glaucoma Treatments

Although eye drops are a common first line treatment, they come with challenges. It can be difficult to consistently apply the medication, especially for older adults with shaky hands or in patients who are squeamish of drops. The treatment schedule of drops can range from one drop every night, to multiple drops 3-4 times a day, and many people may forget to use the drops daily, particularly since early-stage glaucoma has no noticeable symptoms. Also, because glaucoma does not come with any signs or symptoms like pain, redness, irritation, or discharge, many people may not feel like the eye drops are doing anything, which leads to a drop in treatment compliance. Finally, the potential side effects of burning or redness can make the treatment feel less of a priority.

Another option is laser procedures, which is less invasive and helps open the drainage system to relieve fluid buildup. However, it can take a few weeks to see results, and there still may be a need for eye drops to control the pressure after the procedure. If laser treatment or medication doesn’t effectively manage eye pressure, traditional surgery may be necessary. This requires a hospital visit and a recovery period, and while it’s typically effective, surgery can cause side effects like eye pain, redness, infection, and inflammation.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) involves small incisions that minimize trauma to the eye tissues. In MIGS procedures, tiny devices are implanted to help fluid drain from the eye, reducing pressure. Some MIGS devices, like the iStent, are even implanted during cataract surgery, enhancing pressure reduction and reducing the need for medication. These techniques cause minimal scarring and make it easier for doctors to treat glaucoma earlier and more safely than traditional surgeries.

What are Recent Advances in Glaucoma Treatment?

There are exciting advancements in glaucoma treatment designed to reduce patient error, noncompliance, and improve effectiveness. These include injecting the medication directly into the eye for maximum effectiveness, implantable devices that provide precise, sustained drug release, and new classes of eye drops.

​​​​​​​If you're living with glaucoma, rest assured that your treatment options will continue to improve. While glaucoma is not curable, it is highly manageable with proper treatment, and advancements in care provide even more effective solutions for managing the disease.