Glaucoma: The Facts You Need

Q. Is there any way to prevent glaucoma?

There is nothing definite that will prevent a person from developing glaucoma, but you can slow it down with early treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you have regular eye examinations. Your doctor will perform a series of painless tests -- eye pressure measurements, dilated eye exams, and sometimes visual field testing -- to check for any changes in your eye or in your vision. With early detection, glaucoma can often be controlled with medications, either eye drops or pills. If your glaucoma doesn't respond to medication, your doctor may also recommend surgery. Remember, about half of people suffering glaucoma don't know they have it. And doctors cannot reverse damage from glaucoma. So your best protection is to get regular eye exams, either once a year or on a schedule recommended by your doctor.

Q. If I have glaucoma, will I become blind?

The chances are good that you will not go blind if you take your medication correctly and regularly, and follow up with your doctor. Treatment significantly slows the damage that occurs to the optic nerve because of the high pressure in the eye. In fact, if you take your eye drops on schedule each day, you'll probably keep your eyesight until the day you die of old age!

If my parent has glaucoma, will I get it?

Not necessarily. But it does increase your risk. Other factors that may increase your risk are:

• Being over 50
• Being over 40 and African American
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Having a history of serious eye injury
• Taking steroid medications
• Having diabetes
• Being nearsighted
• Having high blood pressure

People with these risk factors should have their eyes examined on a regular basis to look for the disease.

Q. Are there effective treatments for glaucoma?

Yes. There are many different types of medications (in eye drops or pills) that are used to treat glaucoma. Typically, your doctor will start you on an eye drop formulation. The medications work two ways: Some decrease how much fluid is produced in the eye; others help the fluid flow out better. Many people can preserve their vision if they take their medications as scheduled and visit their doctor regularly. Note: Medications for glaucoma -- even eye drops -- can affect the entire body, so you should alert all of your doctors that you are taking them.

In some people, however, medications alone do not control the eye pressure, and surgery needs to be performed. One type of surgery uses a laser -- called trabeculoplasty -- to improve the flow of fluids out of the eye. This can be done in your doctor's office. There is also conventional surgery -- called trabeculectomy -- in which your doctor creates a new drainage path in the eye, under the eyelid. This surgery must be done in an operating room. After both of these procedures, people may still have to take eye drops to further lower the eye pressure.