Medical Treatment for Glaucoma

The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is minimize further damage to the nerves inside the eye and ultimately preserve a patient’s vision. The mainstay of therapy is to lower the intraocular pressure inside the eye. Three methods are currently available: medication, laser treatments and surgery. Medications are mainly delivered in eye drop form ranging from one daily doses to medications required to be used four times a day. Rarely patients may need to take oral medications for their glaucoma.

Successful use of glaucoma eye drops is dependent upon the eye drops being used regularly. If you have difficulty instilling eye drops or difficulty using the bottle, inform your physician so any modifications can be made. It is important for patients to have a routine for their eye drops to minimize the possibility of missed doses. Patients can place reminders in their phone, ask family members to assist and keep their drops in a location that will help them remember, such as on the bathroom sink for twice a day drops.

At each visit, the physician should be aware of any new medical conditions or medications to ensure your eye drops are still compatible. Also inform the physician if you change to a generic option or insurance no longer covers your current medication. Generic medications work well for many patients however they can have different efficacy, different preservatives and different shelf life compared to a name brand medication.