CONSULTANT OPHTHALMIC SURGEON
GLAUCOMA FAQs
What is Glaucoma?
Can Glaucoma be treated?
How is Intraocular Pressure (IOP) involved?
What are the Risk Factors For Developing Glaucoma?
Do All People With High IOP Get Glaucoma?
Why Is Corneal Thickness Relevant?
Do Patients With Glaucoma Always Have High IOP?
Is Treatment Different For Normal Tension Glaucoma?
What Kind Of Glaucoma Do I Have?
What Should I Expect When I Attend the Glaucoma Clinic?
SURGICAL OPTIONS
Trabeculectomy
Tube/Shunt
Non-Penetrating
OTHER PROCEDURES
New Procedures
Revision Procedures
MEDICAL TREATMENT
Most patients who are diagnosed with glaucoma, or considered to be at sufficiently high risk of developing glaucoma, will be offered treatment with an IOP-lowering eye drop.
Eye drops for glaucoma need to be taken every day and are life-time treatments unless told otherwise by your doctor.
If the first eye drop does not work, or the IOP-lowering effect is not sufficient it may be substituted for another drop or another drop added.
There are 5 different classes of IOP-lowering drops for glaucoma but generally speaking if three or more drops are required to stabilise the condition then other treatment options should be considered. Each eye drop can cause side effects and often patients will discontinue an individual drop because they have developed intolerance.
Other ways to treat Glaucoma: