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Management
Medical Treatment
Medicines effectively reduce the pressure in the majority of treated patients with open-angle glaucoma. In almost all cases, medical treatment is the first line of defence against glaucoma.
Eye drops (Figure 1), although not always convenient to use, are usually well-tolerated both in the eye and in the whole body. Oral medications are typically reserved for patients in whom eye drops will not adequately reduce the pressure. Oral medications, unlike eye drops, have many poorly tolerated sideeffects throughout the body. For this reason, laser therapy or incisional glaucoma surgery often will be performed prior to starting treatment with them. Medicines lower ntraocular pressure in one of two ways. They either decrease the production of the aqueous humour, or they increase the drainage of the aqueous humour.
Medicines lower intraocular pressure in one of two ways. They either decrease the production of the aqueous humour, or they increase the drainage of the aqueous humour.
Either of these methods can result in a lower eye pressure, as less fluid is maintained in the eye. Various combinations of ocular medicines may be used to decrease the production of the fluid and also to increase its drainage for patients in whom one ocular medication alone is not adequate.
Medical therapy has several advantages. It is reversible and can be stopped if problems arise. In addition, treatment often can be adjusted by changing the type or amount of medication used. Some eye drops may be used more often. If pressure control is insufficient, the strength of some eye drops can be increased. Changes in the type of medication, strength of medication, and the number of applications may require many office visits and patience by both the patient and eye doctor.
Disadvantages of medical therapy include general body side-effects that can occur from any medication, whether taken in the eye or by mouth. Actually, side-effects related to ocular medications are relatively infrequent among the millions of patients who are treated, but they do occur. Although it may be difficult to imagine that a single eye drop can have sideeffects throughout the body, many ocular medications are promptly absorbed into the blood and may affect the patient in a variety of ways. The effectiveness of treatment with eye drops is dependent upon the ability and willingness of the patient to use them. Studies show that less than half of glaucoma patients take their drops as recommended by their doctors. This is not surprising since it can be inconvenient to take a medication as often as four times each day. In addition, the eye drops themselves may cause temporary, but real, problems such as redness, burning, aching, or even blurring and dimming of the vision.
Medicines effectively reduce the pressure in the majority of treated patients with open-angle glaucoma. In almost all cases, medical treatment is the first line of defence against glaucoma.
Eye drops (Figure 1), although not always convenient to use, are usually well-tolerated both in the eye and in the whole body. Oral medications are typically reserved for patients in whom eye drops will not adequately reduce the pressure. Oral medications, unlike eye drops, have many poorly tolerated sideeffects throughout the body. For this reason, laser therapy or incisional glaucoma surgery often will be performed prior to starting treatment with them. Medicines lower ntraocular pressure in one of two ways. They either decrease the production of the aqueous humour, or they increase the drainage of the aqueous humour.
Medicines lower intraocular pressure in one of two ways. They either decrease the production of the aqueous humour, or they increase the drainage of the aqueous humour.
Either of these methods can result in a lower eye pressure, as less fluid is maintained in the eye. Various combinations of ocular medicines may be used to decrease the production of the fluid and also to increase its drainage for patients in whom one ocular medication alone is not adequate.
Medical therapy has several advantages. It is reversible and can be stopped if problems arise. In addition, treatment often can be adjusted by changing the type or amount of medication used. Some eye drops may be used more often. If pressure control is insufficient, the strength of some eye drops can be increased. Changes in the type of medication, strength of medication, and the number of applications may require many office visits and patience by both the patient and eye doctor.
Disadvantages of medical therapy include general body side-effects that can occur from any medication, whether taken in the eye or by mouth. Actually, side-effects related to ocular medications are relatively infrequent among the millions of patients who are treated, but they do occur. Although it may be difficult to imagine that a single eye drop can have sideeffects throughout the body, many ocular medications are promptly absorbed into the blood and may affect the patient in a variety of ways. The effectiveness of treatment with eye drops is dependent upon the ability and willingness of the patient to use them. Studies show that less than half of glaucoma patients take their drops as recommended by their doctors. This is not surprising since it can be inconvenient to take a medication as often as four times each day. In addition, the eye drops themselves may cause temporary, but real, problems such as redness, burning, aching, or even blurring and dimming of the vision.