Medications lower intraocular pressure by reducing the amount of fluid produced in the eye and increasing drainage. Medication alone can reduce intraocular pressure by 20 to 30 percent. Because glaucoma medications may have side effects, their use may be limited if an individual has other medical problems. For example, some glaucoma medications should be avoided by people who have heart failure or asthma. Laser Therapy is a quick, convenient procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Few complications occur with laser therapy, and vision usually recovers within minutes of treatment.
For patients with closed-angle glaucoma, laser iridectomy is used to create a tiny opening in the iris, which allows the fluid to drain. In open-angle glaucoma, laser trabeculoplasty is used to improve fluid drainage. Laser trabeculoplasty can reduce intraocular pressure in about 75 percent of patients after one treatment. But laser therapy does not always achieve long-term intraocular pressure control, and 50 percent of all patients who have laser treatment require additional therapy within two to five years. Retreatment has a lower success rate and an increased risk for raising, rather than lowering, pressure.