What are the treatments for glaucoma?

Doctor's Answer

Hi there!

The treatment options for glaucoma can be broadly divided into 3 categories -- medications, lasers, and surgeries. All these treatment options have the common aim of lowering eye pressures so that the optic nerve does not continue to be damaged, and vision can be preserved.

Medications are usually in the form of eyedrops. There are 5 classes of eyedrops (4 commonly used, 1 less common), which can be used either singly or in combination. Oral tablets/ liquids are reserved for selected cases in which the pressures are extremely high or rapid lowering of eye pressures are required, or when eyedrops no longer work. Medications lower the eye pressure by either reducing the amount of fluid (aqueous) produced, or increasing the rate of outflow of aqueous out of the eye.

Lasers can be used to treat both open and closed angle glaucoma. In open angle glaucoma, SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) is a form of laser therapy that targets the drainage angle of the eye to increase the drainage of fluid (aqueous) out of the eye, resulting in lower pressures. LPI (Laser Peripheral Iridotomy) is another laser procedure that is the first line of treatment for angle closure glaucoma; it creates an alternative pathway within the eye for the flow of aqueous, which prevents the sudden dramatic rise in pressure that happens in acute angle closure. TCP (Trans-scleral Ciliary Photocoagulation) and its newer partner, MicroPulse TCP (mpTCP) can be used in more severe cases of both open and closed angle glaucoma, to destroy the cells producing aqueous within the eye so that eye pressures can be lowered.

Surgery is usually reserved for cases that do not respond to medications or lasers, or if medications cannot be tolerated due to unacceptable side effects. Trabeculectomy is a form of glaucoma surgery in which an alternative route of drainage of aqueous is created, such that fluid within the eye is diverted to a reservoir or bubble (bleb) outside the eye, resulting in lowering of pressures within the eye. Tube shunt surgery is another way in which aqueous can be diverted out of the eye, via a tube, to a bleb usually located under the upper eyelid. Newer, less invasive forms of glaucoma surgery, aptly named MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery) can be used to control mild to moderate glaucoma, and is usually done together with cataract surgery. These are usually stents or micro-tubes that are inserted into the drainage angle of the eye, to increase the flow of aqueous out of the eye, such that eye pressures are lowered, and glaucoma eyedrops can be reduced or stopped after the procedure.

In summary, there are numerous options for treatment of glaucoma -- medications, lasers, and surgeries, all with the goal of lowering eye pressures. Your uncle may require one or more types of treatment in order to control his glaucoma. It is important to remember that all forms of treatment cannot recover vision that has already been lost, but rather only preserve his remaining field of vision to prevent further visual loss and blindness.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

DQ

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