There are several ways to treat glaucoma
1. Treatment with medication
Treatment with medication is the best initial treatment, convenient and effective, but requires daily eye drops for life. Currently, there are many types of eye drops, differing in the mechanism of action, efficacy, and side effects. The use of oral or injectable medications for glaucoma is short-term in preparation for surgery due to high side effects.
The medications used to treat glaucoma are divided into 6 main groups
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Beta – Adrenergic Blockers This group of medications, especially Timolol, has been widely used for a long time, applied twice daily, morning – evening. However, caution is required in patients with asthma or certain types of heart disease.
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Adrenergic Agonist Some drugs in this group also offer eye protection (Neuroprotection), but caution is needed in young children as they may cause fatigue and drowsiness. Some cases may develop allergic reactions.
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Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor Some drugs in this group can increase blood flow to the optic nerve area, but some patients may experience eye irritation. These drugs can effectively lower eye pressure, but may cause numbness in the fingertips and toes, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
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Cholinergic This group of drugs has been used for a long time, increasing the outflow of fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye, thus reducing pressure.
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Prostaglandin Derivatives This is a new group of drugs that are effective in lowering eye pressure, applied once daily. They have few bodily side effects, but may cause red eyes, darker skin around the eyes, and longer and thicker eyelashes.
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Fixed Combination Drugs that combine two types in one bottle to increase convenience in applying.
2. Treatment with laser
Laser treatment is often used in conjunction with medications. Performing laser treatment for glaucoma is not difficult and rarely presents complications. It takes about 10 – 15 minutes, with no need to stay in the hospital.
3. Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment focuses on creating channels to drain aqueous fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye to the outside, in order to reduce eye pressure. Surgery is performed in an operating room, using either local anesthesia or general anesthesia for small children. Surgery is opted for in cases where treatment with medications and laser has been fully utilized but fails to control the eye pressure within normal limits, or if normal eye pressure is achieved but vision loss or optic nerve damage continues.
