3 Different Treatments for Glaucoma You Should Know About

3 Different Treatments for Glaucoma You Should Know About

Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness in people 60 years and older. It is a series of conditions where an excessive amount of pressure, sometimes known as intraocular pressure, creates permanent damage to the optic nerve. Even though there is no known cure for this eye condition, medical professionals can perform a variety of treatments that can slow down or prevent damage if the disease is detected early.

Eye and Oral Medications

For early-stage glaucoma, an ophthalmologist may recommend medication to combat eye pressure, usually through eye drops. When taken regularly, these medications either reduce fluid production or increase the outflow.

  • Beta-blockers
  • Prostaglandins
  • Cholinergic agents
  • Alpha-adrenergic agonists
  • Miotic agents

Depending on the case, oral medicine may be ideal, usually in the form of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor pills. Any of these medications tend to have side effects, so patients should consult with their doctor before starting treatment.

Laser Therapy

If medicines are not effective in relieving pressure, or if the condition has advanced, then laser therapy is the next step, usually performed by experienced surgeons such as Ryan Smith Lexington KY. There are two main laser surgeries available: iridotomy and trabeculoplasty. In iridotomy, the specialist uses a laser to open a hole in the angle-closure glaucoma patient’s iris to drain the fluid. Meanwhile, trabeculoplasty is for individuals with open-angle glaucoma, where the laser is aimed at the lens and reflects on the meshwork, also creating a draining effect.

Traditional Surgery

If medication and laser surgery are ineffective, a person may choose more traditional procedures. A different approach to trabeculoplasty involves opening a flap in the sclera and a bubble in the conjunctiva, causing the fluid to drain in the latter. Alternatively, drainage tubes are inserted, draining the fluid to the conjunctiva. In both procedures, the fluid is absorbed.

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People can mitigate glaucoma’s damage through early detection and timely treatments. Patients should talk to their doctors to determine the most effective solution.

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