How to Treat Open-Angle Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. Although glaucoma primarily affects individuals who are over the age of 65, it is still something to be mindful of. As the first stage of glaucoma and the most prominent form of this eye disease, open-angle glaucoma is easily treatable with the help of our staff here at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center. So, how is this common form of glaucoma treated and what can you do to prevent it? Read on to learn more.

How Is It Treated?

There are two main treatment options for open angle glaucoma that we like to use here at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center: eye drops and laser surgery.

• Eye Drops: Unlike more advanced stages of glaucoma where laser surgery is required, most cases of open-angle glaucoma can be treated with daily eye drops. By using these eye drops every day, they help to lower the pressure placed on your eye by reducing the amount of aqueous fluid that your eye makes.
• Laser Surgery: If eyedrops just aren’t doing the trick, then your ophthalmologist may recommend a trabeculoplasty. During this surgery, a laser is used to make the drainage angle of the eye work better— decreasing the eye pressure in the process.

Prevention Is Easy

When it comes to preventing glaucoma, the best thing you can do is get regular eye examinations and glaucoma screenings from Longwood Eye & LASIK Center. As long as glaucoma is caught in its early stage—the open angle stage— it is treatable, and we can prevent it from getting worse. On average, we encourage all of our patients to come into our office once a year for their regular eye examination which includes glaucoma and cataract screening.

The great news about open angle glaucoma is that it is easily treated and can be stopped from getting worse with regular eye screenings. If you would like to learn more about glaucoma, contact Longwood Eye & LASIK Center today!