Or, they may cause side effects. If a problem occurs, the eye care professional may select other drugs, change the dose, or suggest other ways to deal with the problem. This results in a series of small changes, which makes it easier for fluid to exit the eye. Over time, the effect of laser surgery may wear off. Patients who have this form of surgery may need to keep taking glaucoma drugs.
Surgery can also help fluid escape from the eye and thereby reduce the pressure.
However, surgery is usually reserved for patients whose pressure cannot be controlled with eye drops, pills, or laser surgery. A large amount of research is being done in the U.S. to learn what causes glaucoma and to improve its diagnosis and treatment. By learning more about this process, doctors may be able to find the exact cause of the disease and learn better how to prevent and treat it. The NEI also supports clinical trials of new drugs and surgical techniques that show promise against glaucoma. Studies have shown that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease.