Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that causes increased intraocular pressure, which can lead to serious consequences, especially irreversible blindness.
Although there is no cure, intraocular pressure can be controlled and attenuated symptoms with appropriate treatment. Thus, ideally whenever there is an indication of disease, consult an ophthalmologist to start treatment, which may include the use of eye drops, pills or even surgery.
- In general.
- Your doctor should start by doing an evaluation to understand what type of glaucoma may influence the type of treatment:.
This is the most common and usually affects both eyes and does not cause symptoms. Eye drainage channels are blocked, reducing the natural drainage of eye fluid, with increased pressure in the eye and gradual vision loss.
This is the most severe because there is a rapid blockage of the fluid passage, which causes increased pressure and loss of vision.
This is a rare situation in which the baby is born with the disease diagnosed around 6 months of age. Treatment is done only by surgery.
Depending on the type of glaucoma and the intensity of symptoms, as well as eye pressure, your eye doctor may recommend the following treatments:
Eye drops are often the first choice to treat glaucoma because they are easy to use and do not require invasive intervention. However, these eye drops should be used daily, or as directed by your doctor, to ensure that intraocular pressure is properly regulated.
The eye drops most commonly used in the treatment of glaucoma are those that lower intraocular pressure, such as latanoprost or timolol, but your doctor may also order an anti-inflammatory drug, such as prednisolone, to reduce discomfort. In all cases, these medications should be prescribed by an ophthalmologist, as they have several side effects and cannot be sold without a prescription. Learn more about the main eye drops to treat glaucoma.
In open-angle glaucoma, eye drops may be enough to keep the problem well controlled, but in the case of a closed angle, eye drops are generally not enough and therefore the ophthalmologist may recommend laser treatment or surgery.
In some cases, glaucoma pills may be used in combination with eye drops, as they also help reduce pressure inside the eye. This type of medicine is also most commonly used for open-angle glaucoma.
When taking such pills, it is necessary to go to the nutritionist to adjust the diet, as there may be a decrease in potassium absorption, and it is necessary to increase the consumption of foods such as nuts, bananas, raw carrots, tomatoes or radians, for example.
Laser therapy is usually used when eye drops and pills cannot control intraocular pressure, but before attempting surgery. This type of technique can be done in your doctor’s office and usually lasts between 15 and 20 minutes.
During treatment, the ophthalmologist points a laser to the eye drainage system to make small changes that improve fluid collection. Because the result can take 3 to 4 weeks to appear, your doctor may schedule several evaluations to evaluate over time.
Surgery is more common in closed-angle glaucoma, as the use of eye drops and medications may not be enough to control intraocular pressure. However, surgery can also be used in any other case, when treatment does not have the desired effect.
The most common type of surgery is known as trabecululation and involves making a small opening in the white part of the eye, creating a channel that allows fluid in the eye to come out and lower eye pressure.
After surgery, many patients can go several months without having to use any medication and, even when they do, controlling intraocular pressure is easier. However, this does not mean that the disease is cured, it is advisable to maintain regular visits to the ophthalmologist.
Watch the video below and learn more about glaucoma and how the treatment is performed:
Signs of improvement can take up to 7 days to appear and usually include reduced eye redness, reduced eye pain, and relief from nausea and vomiting.
Signs of worsening are more common in patients who do not follow treatment properly and include greater difficulty seeing.
The main complication is blindness, which occurs due to permanent eye damage caused by increased pressure. However, other complications include floats and tunnel vision.