Treatment of glaucoma is for the rest of one's life. Sometimes it's hard for patients to see the benefit of treatment, especially since nothing improves. The goal is not improvement, but prevention of further damage to the eye. If the eye pressure is not controlled, the optic nerve will be damaged and vision will be lost. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered.
Treatment usually starts out with drops or pills which can reduce the intraocular pressure.
Some medications are designed to reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye. Others help improve fluid drainage. For most people with glaucoma, regular use of medications will control the increased fluid pressure. If these medications stop working over time or cause side effects, the doctor may change the dosage or select another medication to control the glaucoma. Sometimes laser treatment is used.