Medical and Laser Treatment of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of conditions in which the eye pressure is abnormal. It is a fairly common condition in the community as approximately 2% of the population over forty have this disease. The abnormal pressure will damage the nerve at the back of the eye leading to a loss of visual field. The disease is inherited, so that if one member of the family has glaucoma, other members should be checked for this condition.

One of the big problems with glaucoma is that it does not lead to symptoms until there is marked visual field loss, which is irreversible.

Unfortunately, for most people, there is no cure for glaucoma, but it can be successfully controlled. Eye drops are the most common form of treatment. If they are not effective, then laser or surgical procedures may be necessary.