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What Is Glaucoma?

What Are the Treatment Options?

Glaucoma Medications • Glaucoma Surgeries • Complementary and Alternative Medicines

VIDEO: “Currently Available Methods to Treat Open Angle Glaucoma”
Continuing Education Lecture – SGVOS Event • April 12, 2017
Featured Speaker: Dr. David Richardson, MD

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a common disease of the eye which results from the dysfunction in the eye’s drainage system that leads to irreversible blindness. Clogging of this drainage system eventually results in an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) which damages the eye’s delicate structures, especially the nerve responsible for vision (optic nerve).

Is There a Cure for Glaucoma?

To date there is no cure for glaucoma. The best any treatment can do is to halt (or slow) the progression of this disease. The closer the IOP to 8mmHg, the better (below that and the eye can lose vision from the pressure being too low).

Studies have shown that for most glaucoma patients, an IOP of less than 15mmHg can be protective (a goal often achieved with Canaloplasty). Some forms of glaucoma (such as advanced, low tension, or normal tension glaucoma) require IOPs of less than 12mmHg in order to avoid loss of vision. Only your eye surgeon can determine what your eye’s goal should be.

What Is the Treatment for Glaucoma?

Since the 19th century the mainstay of glaucoma treatment has been to lower the eye pressure. This has been achieved through both medical and surgical means. Over the last three decades, there has been a rapid development in glaucoma treatments, with a wide range of options available, from traditional glaucoma medications and traditional surgeries, to the more sophisticated minimally invasive glaurcoma surgeries (MIGS i.e. canaloplasty and stents).

Due to personal preference as well as the high cost of traditional treatment, many individuals are looking to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to supplement their prescribed glaucoma treatment despite the lack of scientific evidence that most CAM therapies are beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma.

Which option is most appropriate for you will depend on the severity of glaucoma and the comfort of the surgeon with the available glaucoma treatment options

Therapies or Treatment Not Directly Related to Intraocular Pressure

At the present time all FDA approved glaucoma treatments aim to lower IOP. However, modern research has discovered a number of mechanisms other than elevated IOP that may contribute to loss of vision from glaucoma.

A few of these mechanisms include: Reducing inflammation, Limiting oxidative damage, Neuroprotection, and Improving the blood supply to the optic nerve.

TREATMENTS FOR GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma Treatments Options

Glaucoma Medications

Current glaucoma treatment guidelines follow a step-up approach with eye medications as the initial treatment of choice.
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Glaucoma Surgeries

When medications are not effective enough, surgery may be the next best option. These procedures can be categorized intro three…
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Alternative Treatments

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) are medical practices and products that are not part of the usual standard of care…
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Canaloplasty: The Safer Glaucoma Treatment

Canaloplasty is an advanced minimally invasive glaucoma treatment. It is a “non-penetrating” glaucoma surgery… 

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