PATIENT EDUCATION
Glaucoma: Testing, Treatment & Long-Term Care
Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve gradually and without warning. Early diagnosis and consistent treatment help preserve vision.
Angle-closure glaucoma is an emergency
Go to an eye doctor or emergency department immediately for sudden severe eye pain, a red eye, blurred vision or halos, headache, nausea, or vomiting. A rapid pressure rise can cause permanent vision loss.
UNDERSTANDING GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that injure the optic nerve—the connection that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. High eye pressure is an important risk factor, but glaucoma can also occur when pressure readings fall within the statistically normal range.
Damage usually begins in peripheral vision and may not be noticeable until the disease is advanced. Vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, which makes early detection and ongoing monitoring especially important.
TYPES OF GLAUCOMA
Different mechanisms can damage the optic nerve
Open-angle glaucoma
The most common form. Drainage becomes less efficient over time, and optic-nerve damage usually develops slowly without pain or early symptoms.
Normal-tension glaucoma
Optic-nerve damage occurs even though measured eye pressure is not consistently high. Treatment still focuses on lowering pressure from the patient’s baseline.
Angle-closure glaucoma
The iris blocks the drainage angle. Closure may occur gradually or suddenly; an acute attack is a medical emergency.
Secondary glaucoma
Trauma, inflammation, steroid use, pseudoexfoliation, pigment dispersion, blood-vessel disease, or other conditions can raise pressure or damage the optic nerve.
Who is at increased risk?
- Increasing age
- Family history of glaucoma
- African, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian ancestry, depending on glaucoma type
- High eye pressure
- Thin corneas
- Significant nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Previous eye trauma, inflammation, or surgery
- Long-term steroid exposure
- Diabetes, migraine, sleep apnea, or vascular risk factors
Why symptoms are unreliable
Open-angle glaucoma is often called a silent disease because patients usually feel no pressure and notice no early vision change. By the time peripheral loss becomes obvious, significant optic-nerve damage may already be present.
A pressure check alone does not rule glaucoma in or out. Diagnosis depends on the optic nerve, drainage angle, corneal thickness, visual field, imaging, and change over time.
GLAUCOMA TESTING
Diagnosis uses several pieces of information
Eye pressure
Tonometry measures intraocular pressure. Readings can vary by time of day and are interpreted in context.
Optic-nerve examination
A dilated examination and photographs evaluate the nerve’s shape, color, and change over time.
OCT imaging
Optical coherence tomography measures retinal nerve-fiber and ganglion-cell layers for structural thinning.
Visual-field testing
Maps peripheral and central sensitivity to detect functional loss and monitor progression.
Gonioscopy
A special lens shows whether the drainage angle is open, narrow, closed, or abnormal.
Corneal thickness
Pachymetry helps your doctor interpret pressure measurements and overall risk.
TREATMENT
Lowering eye pressure protects the optic nerve
Glaucoma treatment cannot restore vision already lost, but it can slow or prevent additional damage. Your target pressure is individualized according to the type and severity of glaucoma, baseline pressure, testing, age, and rate of progression.
Prescription eye drops
Drops reduce fluid production or improve drainage. Consistent use and correct technique are important; report side effects rather than stopping medication on your own.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty
SLT improves drainage in many open-angle glaucomas. It may be used as initial treatment or to reduce reliance on drops.
Laser iridotomy
LPI creates a small opening in the iris for eyes at risk of or affected by angle closure. Additional treatment may still be needed.
Glaucoma surgery
MIGS and traditional filtering procedures improve fluid outflow. The best approach depends on disease severity, anatomy, cataract status, and pressure goals.
LIVING WITH GLAUCOMA
Consistency matters between visits
Use medication as directed
Link drops to a daily routine. Close the eye gently after instilling a drop and wait between different medications as instructed.
Keep every monitoring visit
Pressure may look acceptable while OCT or field testing shows progression. Long-term comparisons guide treatment changes.
Tell your family
Close relatives may have increased risk and should ask their eye-care professional about appropriate screening.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Glaucoma FAQ
Does high pressure always mean glaucoma?
No. Some people have ocular hypertension without nerve damage, while others develop glaucoma at pressures in the normal range.
Can I feel my eye pressure?
Usually not. Most pressure elevations cause no sensation. Acute angle closure is the important painful exception.
Can treatment cure glaucoma?
Current treatment controls risk and slows progression; it does not cure glaucoma or restore damaged optic-nerve tissue.
PATIENT EDUCATION VIDEO
Learn more about glaucoma
This video provides general education and does not replace a dilated examination or individualized medical advice.
THE EYE CENTERS
Protect your vision with regular glaucoma care
Schedule an examination if you have glaucoma, elevated eye pressure, a family history, or another risk factor.