The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower the intraocular pressure (also called IOP) to prevent damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Glaucoma treatment usually starts with medicated eye drops. It is important to use glaucoma eye drops as instructed by your eye doctor because damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision from glaucoma is not reversible.

Glaucoma laser treatment can also be used to lower the eye pressure. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (also called SLT) is a type of glaucoma laser treatment used to lower the eye pressure. SLT is a safe, painless, and effective treatment to lower the eye pressure. SLT lowers the eye pressure by increasing the flow of aqueous fluid out of the eye through the normal outflow channels in the eye (known as the trabecular meshwork). Yag iridotomy is another type of laser treatment used for a specific type of glaucoma called narrow angle glaucoma. Yag iridotomy works by making a very small hole in the iris (the colored part of the eye) to create an alternative route for the fluid to drain. Your eye doctor may recommend a Yag iridotomy to help prevent a painful attack of narrow angle glaucoma if you are at risk.

Glaucoma surgery may be necessary to lower the eye pressure if glaucoma cannot be controlled with pressure lowering eye drops and glaucoma laser treatment. Trabeculectomy is a glaucoma surgery where a small part of the clogged drainage of the eye (the trabecular meshwork) is removed to create an alternate route for the aqueous fluid to drain. As the aqueous fluid flows through the alternate route, a small bubble (or bleb) is created under the conjunctiva, which is the thin tissue covering the white of the eye. Trabeculectomy is an outpatient procedure where you go home the same day shortly after surgery. Another glaucoma surgery performed to lower eye pressure is implantation of a Glaucoma Drainage Device. A glaucoma drainage device drains aqueous fluid from eye through a small plastic tube into a reservoir implanted over the white part of the eye.