Advances in glaucoma treatment are only beneficial when the disease is detected early. By the time people realize they are losing vision, the vision they have already lost is gone forever. A dilated eye exam allows the eye care professional to obtain a better view of the eye's optic nerve to look for early signs of glaucoma. The side effects from the older glaucoma treatments were major reasons why some glaucoma patients did not take their medications. The new therapies help preserve remaining vision and mark a significant step in improving the quality of life for people with glaucoma.
Glaucoma occurs when nourishing fluid that normally flows in and out of the eye drains too slowly.
As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye progressively increases. As the disease worsens, the field of vision gradually narrows and blindness may result. However, if glaucoma is detected and treated early in its progression, it can usually be slowed and serious vision loss can be delayed. Laser surgery for glaucoma involves using a high energy beam of light to make tiny, evenly-spaced burns that open up the drainage area inside the eye, allowing for better outflow of the fluid. This procedure, often done in the doctor's office, requires only local anesthesia.