Treatment
Whatever your intraocular pressure is, its decrease and frequent measurement stop the disease from progressing.
The aim in treatment for glaucoma is to prevent the progression of the disease by:
Medications:
Open-angled glaucoma is usually controlled with medications, which decrease intraocular pressure by decreasing production of fluid in the eyes or by increasing swelling from the angle of drainage. Glaucoma medications can have side effects. You must inform your ophthalmologist if you notice: burning in the eyes, palpitations or issues with breathing, loss of sensation in the feelings of the hands and feet, drowsiness, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal upset, kidney stones, anemia, or easy bruising and bleeding.
Laser and surgical treatment of glaucoma:
The procedure called laser trabeculoplasty improves drainage in patients with open-angled glaucoma. In patients with close-angled glaucoma, a procedure called laser iridotomy is performed. It is called like this because a small incision in the iris is made to improve drainage.
In cases when intraocular pressure is not successfully decreased with eye drops and laser therapy, an anti-glaucoma surgery is performed.
There are 3 ways to surgically treat glaucoma:
The aim of surgery in glaucoma is to decrease intraocular pressure by creating another way for fluid to drain out of the eye.
With the introduction, adoption and constant improvement in laser technologies, therapeutic effects and active follow up of glaucoma patients become larger and larger.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty – a procedure with good effectiveness and an excellent safety profile. This procedure is used to create an artificial way for drainage of the ocular fluid and decreasing of the intraocular pressure. After fistula surgery (such as this one), the ocular fluid drains through the created fistula and causes raising of the conjunctive unde the upper eyelid (filtration pillow), which causes irritation. Good hygiene and some temporary medications are needed.
An active lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy and varied food decrease the risk of developing glaucoma with aging.
What should we do if we notice that we have glaucoma?
Visit your doctor regularly to stop the progression of the disease and save your eyesight.
If you have diagnosed glaucoma, to stop its prevention, adapt your lifestyle by:
