Home » Blog » What You Need to Know About Your Glaucoma Treatment Options

Posted by: Georgia Eye Associates in Glaucoma

For most people, a glaucoma diagnosis is a scary thing to receive. It’s no secret that glaucoma causes progressive vision loss and in some cases, even blindness.

And while you should take a glaucoma diagnosis very seriously, there is no need to lose hope altogether. It’s true that there is no cure for glaucoma at this time. However, there are treatment options available for patients.

Let’s look at some of the most popular treatment options for glaucoma. Hopefully, this list will give you some ideas about which could be right for you.

• Eye drops

Many doctors will prescribe eye drops to help treat glaucoma. These drops are absorbed in your both your eyes and bloodstream. They help reduce the pressure in your eyes and can slow the progression of glaucoma.

It is important to take your eye drops regularly as prescribed by your eye doctor. They will be the most effective if you don’t miss doses and your body absorbs as much of the medicine as possible.

The eye drops may cause some discomfort such as a burning or stinging sensation. However, this should only last for a short period of time.

• Medication

If your eye drops aren’t able to sufficiently lower your intraocular eye pressure, your doctor may prescribe medication. The medication will limit the amount of fluid produced in your eyes, which helps lower intraocular eye pressure.

Make sure you let your doctor know about any other medications you are taking so they don’t negatively interact with your glaucoma medication.

• Surgery

If eye drops and medication aren’t enough, your doctor may recommend surgery.  Many doctors prefer laser surgery to treat glaucoma. This will alter the eye’s drainage system and help prevent further vision loss.

We know that surgery often sounds scary but this is usually a painless procedure. And surgery is often a very effective option for treating glaucoma and improving the patient’s quality of life.

Are you currently living with glaucoma and wondering what the best treatment option is for you? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.

And if you haven’t heard the news, we recently opened a new office in Braselton and are accepting appointment there as well.