Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form. Some people have other types of the disease.

In low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma, optic nerve damage and loss of vision may occur in people with normal eye pressure. Lowering eye pressure at least 30% through medicines slows the disease in some people. Glaucoma may
worsen in others despite low pressures.

A comprehensive medical history is important in identifying other potential risk factors, such as low blood pressure, that contribute to low-tension glaucoma. If no risk factors are identified, the treatment options for low-tension glaucoma are the same as for open-angle glaucoma.

In angle-closure glaucoma, the fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye. People with this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure. Symptoms include severe pain and nausea, as well as redness of the eye and blurred vision. If you have these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately. This is a medical emergency. If your doctor is
unavailable, go to the nearest hospital or clinic.

In congenital glaucoma, children are born with a defect in the angle of the eye that slows the normal drainage of fluid. Surgery is the primary treatment because the structure of the drainage angle is so distorted. Also, glaucoma drugs may have unknown effects in infants and be difficult to give. If surgery is done promptly, these children usually have an excellent chance of having good vision.

Secondary glaucomas develop as a complication of other medical conditions. These glaucomas are associated with eye surgery or advanced cataracts, eye injuries, certain eye tumors, or uveitis (eye inflammation.) Corticosteroid drugs used to treat eye inflammations and other diseases can trigger glaucoma in some people. Treatment includes medicines, laser surgery, or conventional surgery.

Yes. Immediate treatment for early stage, open-angle glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. That’s why early diagnosis is very important.

Glaucoma treatments include topic medicines, laser trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any of these. While these treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.

Medicines. Drugs, in the form of eye drops or pills, are the most common early treatment for glaucoma. Some drugs cause the eyes to make less fluid. Others lower pressure by helping fluid drain from the eyes.

Glaucoma medicines may be taken several times a day. Most people have no side effects. However, some medicines can cause headaches or other side effects. For example, drops may cause stinging, burning, and redness in the eyes. Report these symptoms to your eye doctor so changes can be made in your treatment plan.

Because glaucoma often has no symptoms, people may be tempted to stop taking, or may forget to take, their medicine. You need to use the drops or pills for as long as they help control your eye pressure. Regular use is very important.

Laser trabeculoplasty. Laser trabeculoplasty helps fluid drain out of the eye.

It is performed in your doctor’s office or eye clinic. A high-intensity beam of light is aimed into the angle and onto the meshwork inside your eye. The laser leaves tiny evenly spaced burns that stretch the drainage holes in the meshwork. This allows the fluid to drain better.

Like any surgery, laser surgery can cause side effects, such as inflammation. Your doctor may give you some drops to take home for any soreness or inflammation inside the eye. Laser treatments — if needed in both eyes — may be scheduled several days to several weeks apart.

Studies show that laser surgery is very good at reducing the pressure in some patients. However, its effects can wear off over time. Your doctor may suggest further treatment and you may still need glaucoma eye drops after laser treatment.

Conventional surgery. Conventional surgery makes a new opening for the fluid to leave the eye. Your doctor may suggest this treatment at any time. Conventional surgery often is done after medicines and laser surgery have failed
to control pressure.

Conventional surgery is performed in an eye clinic or hospital. A small piece of tissue is removed to create a new channel for the fluid to drain from the eye.

For several weeks after the surgery, you must put drops in the eye to fight infection and inflammation. These drops will be different from those you may have been using before surgery.

As with laser surgery, conventional surgery is performed on one eye at a time. Usually the operations are four to six weeks apart.

Conventional surgery can have side effects, including cataract, problems with the cornea, and inflammation or infection inside the eye. The buildup of fluid in the back of the eye may cause some patients to see shadows in their vision.

If your vision changes or you have pain or discomfort, tell your doctor.

At first, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. It causes no pain. Vision stays normal.

As glaucoma remains untreated, people miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

Yes. Glaucoma can develop without increased eye pressure. This form of glaucoma is called low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma. It is not as common as open-angle glaucoma.

Not necessarily. Not every person with increased eye pressure will develop glaucoma. Some people can tolerate higher eye pressure better than others. Also, a certain level of eye pressure may be high for one person but normal for another.

Whether you develop glaucoma depends on the level of pressure your optic nerve can tolerate without being damaged. This level is different for each person. That’s why a comprehensive dilated annual eye exam is very important. It can help your eye doctor determine what level of eye pressure is normal for you. Be sure to ask your eye doctor what your eye pressure is and if it’s normal.

Not necessarily. Increased eye pressure means you are at risk for glaucoma, but does not mean you have the disease. A person has glaucoma only if the optic nerve is damaged. If you have increased eye pressure but no damage to the optic nerve has been found, you may not have glaucoma. However, you are at risk. Follow the advice of your eye care professional.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. However, with early detection and treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.