Treatment for glaucoma focuses on preserving eyesight by slowing the damage to the optic nerve.  Most treatment aims to prevent further damage to the optic nerve by lowering the pressure in the eyes. As a rule, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed.  Eye drops, pills, laser and surgical operations are used to prevent or retard further damage from occurring.

Narrow-angle glaucoma can be treated with a laser iridotomy.  By using a laser, a small hole is made in the iris to create a new pathway for the aqueous fluid to drain from the eye.  The new drainage hole allows the iris to fall back to its normal position, restoring the balance between fluid entering and leaving the eye and lowering eye pressure.

Open-angle glaucoma can be treated with laser trabeculoplasty.  This procedure works by using laser light to stimulate the body’s own healing response to lower your eye pressure.  Laser trabeculoplasty improves the flow of fluid in the eye, which in turns lowers your eye pressure.

Neither the YAG laser iridotomy nor the laser trabeculoplasty will help improve the patient’s vision.  The purpose of these lasers is to help lower the eye pressure and prevent vision loss.

If glaucoma progresses despite medications or laser therapy, other more involved surgery procedures such as a trabeculectomy or tube shunt placement may be necessary to control or lower the pressure and prevent vision loss.

For more information on glaucoma treatment, contact Regional Eye Associates at 1-800-598-3301.