4 The most common glaucoma treatment options

Glaucoma is a vision disorder in elderly people caused by damage to the nerves of the eye due to high pressure in the eyeball. It is important for you to get treatment as soon as possible to prevent vision problems from getting worse. Then, can glaucoma be cured? If so, what types of treatment can you choose? Check out the various glaucoma treatment options at the most common doctors.

Various glaucoma treatment options are available

Most of the patients diagnosed with glaucoma must have the same concerns and questions, namely whether this disease can be cured.

In general, glaucoma is incurable. However, the symptoms and disease progression can still be controlled with medication.

Glaucoma treatment will only help prevent glaucoma from getting worse. Therefore, treatment will usually focus on ways to reduce high eye pressure.

There are four treatment options for glaucoma that are commonly used by doctors to avoid the risk of blindness. Usually, the type of treatment chosen depends on the severity and type of glaucoma that the patient has.

Here are 4 common glaucoma treatments that doctors give:

1. Eye drops

The most common way to treat glaucoma and is always recommended first by doctors is eye drops. These drugs work to lower eye pressure and prevent damage to the optic nerve of the eye.

Of course, the eye drops used in the treatment of glaucoma are not drugs that you can get over the counter at the pharmacy. You must get it by prescription because the type and dose will be determined based on the severity of your condition.

Based on information from National Eye Health, the most commonly prescribed drops for lowering eye pressure are:

• Prostaglandin analogue class (latanaprost, travoprost, tafluprost, and bimatoprost)
• Cholinergic or myotic agents (pilocarpine)
• Rho kinase inhibitor class (netarsudil)
• Nitric oxide group (latanoprostene bunod)

Meanwhile, there are also eye drops that help reduce the level of fluid produced by the eye. Some of them are:

• Β-adrenergic antagonists (timolol and betaxolol)
• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (dorzolamide and brinzolamide)
• Alpha-adrenergic agonists (apraclonidine and brimonidine)

These drugs can be given separately or the doctor may combine them. Although the use of eye drops cannot completely cure glaucoma, they are effective in preventing the disease from getting worse.

2. Drinking medicine

In addition to eye drops, doctors will sometimes prescribe oral or oral medications in the treatment of glaucoma. There are two choices of oral medications used to treat glaucoma symptoms, namely:

• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, like acetazolamide.
  This drug is generally only used for short treatment of acute glaucoma attacks. However, in some cases, this drug can be given over a long period of time to patients who cannot undergo surgery but eye drops are no longer effective.
• Hyperosmotic group, like the glisero
  This drug works by drawing fluid from the eyeball into the blood vessels. Administration is only done in acute cases and for a short period of time (hours).

However, the risk of side effects from oral medications is higher than for eye drops. That is why, taking medication is usually less recommended in the treatment of glaucoma.

3. Laser

The next glaucoma treatment option is laser. Usually, a laser will be recommended if drugs and other non-surgical methods do not work to reduce eye pressure.

There are two types of laser treatment that can be done to help drain excess eye fluid due to glaucoma, namely:

• Trabeculoplasty. This procedure is commonly done for people who have open-angle glaucoma. The laser helps to maximize the drainage angle.
• Iridotomy. This procedure is generally performed in cases of angle closure glaucoma. Your iris will be punched using a laser beam to allow extra fluid to flow better.

However, how to treat glaucoma with laser sometimes does not show better results than surgical procedures or surgeries.

4. Operation

Glaucoma surgery is generally performed in cases that are no longer getting better with the treatment options above. The operation usually lasts 45-75 minutes.

Common surgical procedures used to treat glaucoma include:

• Trabeculectomy, is done by making a small incision in the white of the eye and also making a pocket in the conjunctiva area (bleb). Thus, excess fluid can flow through the incision into the bleb bag and then be absorbed by the body.
• Glaucoma drainage device. This procedure involves placing a tube-like implant to help drain excess fluid in the eyeball.

Can blindness due to glaucoma be cured?

Keep in mind again that the glaucoma treatments above are very important to prevent eye damage from getting worse. The reason is, glaucoma that is treated late can lead to total blindness.

When the patient has lost all of his vision, he develops a condition called absolute glaucoma. Not only total blindness, the patient may also feel painful pressure on the eye.

So, can blindness in absolute glaucoma be cured?

Unfortunately, blindness that has been caused by glaucoma is permanent. This means that the sufferer's vision can no longer be restored.

Even so, people who experience absolute glaucoma will still be given treatment to reduce pain due to eye pressure. Not only that, you will also be given psychological therapy to provide support for patients who have lost their sight.

That is why, it is important that you recognize the symptoms of glaucoma and treat it as early as possible. That way, more damage can be prevented. Discuss further with your doctor to find out what glaucoma treatment method is most suitable for you.