Glaucoma - Treatment

Glaucoma may be treated with either medication or surgery. Medication is usually tried first. The drugs used are substances that reduce intraocular pressure. In general, they either decrease the rate at which aqueous humor is produced in the eye, or they increase the rate at which it is drained off. All of the medications used for glaucoma have side effects. Various individual drugs and combinations of drugs may have to be tried to see which works best for any one patient.

Some patients do not respond well to medication. In such cases, surgery may be necessary. The purpose of surgery is to open up the canals through which aqueous humor drains out of the eye. The surgery is often done with lasers.

Surgery is usually quite effective in solving glaucoma problems. However, its effects may not last very long. In many cases, surgery is required again in a year or less.

Alternative Treatment

Some vitamins and minerals are thought to reduce intraocular pressure. These include vitamins C and B ₁ (thiamine) and chromium and zinc.

Research suggests that marijuana reduces IOP. However, there is some dispute as to whether the drug should be used for this purpose. Researchers are currently weighing the advantages of using marijuana to relieve the symptoms of glaucoma against public concerns about the drug.