In recent years, a new class of treatment called 'minimally invasive glaucoma surgery' or 'MIGS' is changing the glaucoma treatment model. These procedures use tiny incisions to place microscopic devices inside the eye to lower the pressure inside the eye.
Current treatment for glaucoma includes eye drops, laser treatment and surgery. These treatments aim to reduce pressure in the eye, thereby reducing damage to the optic nerve. Although we cannot cure glaucoma, current treatments can slow and sometimes halt its progression.
The best glaucoma treatment is to lower the intraocular pressure. The options for this may include prescription eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, eye surgery, or our doctors may use a combination of these treatments depending on the patient's situation.
There's no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.
Take Action to Prevent Vision Loss
If you are in a high-risk group, get a comprehensive dilated eye exam to catch glaucoma early and start treatment. Prescription eye drops can stop glaucoma from progressing. Your eye care specialist will recommend how often to return for follow-up exams.
Close and Press
However, in order to help the eye drop penetrate your eye, the easiest thing to do is to keep your eyes closed for 2 minutes after instilling the drop because blinking activates the “pump” that drains your tears away from the eyeball.
For almost 50 years trabeculectomy has reigned as the king of glaucoma surgery. Commonly described by eye surgeons as the “gold standard” of glaucoma surgery, it nevertheless has been tarnished by what many consider to be an unacceptably high risk of loss of vision.
High trans fats have been proven to cause damage to the optic nerve. Time to cut out fried foods, baked goods and any product with an ingredient list that includes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Saturated foods that include red meat, beef, lard, shortening and oils can also worsen glaucoma.
The LiGHT study provides strong evidence that laser therapy can be a first-line treatment for people with glaucoma and ocular hypertension, bypassing the need to start with eye drops first.
People who engage in anaerobic exercise may hold their breath temporarily while they're straining, and this too can raise eye pressure and further increase the risk of developing glaucoma or worsening vision loss in people who have the disease. Examples of anaerobic exercise can include: Situps and pullups.
Medications such as Tagamet (cimetidine) and Zantac (ranitidine) are weak anticholinergics that may lead to angle-closure. Medications such as Norflex (orphenadrine) and Artane (trihexyphenidyl) have been associated with angle closure.
Prostaglandin eye drops are considered the most effective class of medication for glaucoma. They also only need to be used once daily and don't usually cause a lot of side effects. Other classes of prescription glaucoma eye drops include: Beta blockers: These lower the amount of fluid being made in the eyes.
While treatment for glaucoma cannot restore vision if it has already been lost, it can preserve remaining sight. Typically, many forms of glaucoma are first treated with daily eye drops or a laser procedure.
Treating it may ultimately involve addressing both pressure issues and neuroprotective issues. Vitamin supplements that have been posited to have an effect on glaucoma include B1, B3, B12, C, A and E.
They work by lowering the pressure in your eye and preventing damage to your optic nerve. These eye drops won't cure glaucoma or reverse vision loss, but they can keep glaucoma from getting worse. If your doctor prescribes eye drops for glaucoma, you'll need to use them every day.
If your eyes become tired with prolonged concentration, you can rest them periodically - but please don't worry that you have done them any harm. Similarly, longer distance viewing such as driving, watching TV or going to the movies does not harm your eyes.
Glaucoma and Eye Protection
One of the easiest ways for glaucoma patients to ease the discomfort caused by glare and light sensitivity is to utilize proper sunglasses. Protecting the eyes from UV rays is important for everyone, and especially those with ocular health complications.
Bimatoprost is effective in reduction of elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Eye drops, commonly nonspecific beta-blocker or prostaglandin analog drops, generally are the first-line treatment to reduce intraocular pressure.
Laser trabeculoplasty, on average, lowers eye pressure by approximately 20-25 percent. The effect of the surgery will usually last somewhere between 1 to 5 years.
Reported rates of nonadherence with glaucoma medications range from 16% to 30% [14.
One tip is to keep your eye drops refrigerated. By doing so, the drops themselves will feel cool and soothing to the surface of your eye when you use them. Also, you will be able to feel the cool drop as it falls into your eye versus onto your skin.
When that something is your glaucoma medication, it is important to take action fast to ensure your treatment plan isn't interrupted. “Missing several doses would cause your eye pressure to increase, which can have long term impact on your vision,” says Dr. Regis.