Glaucoma Is Treated (Drops, Laser, Surgery): How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Glaucoma treatment has one main goal, to lower the pressure inside the eye and protect the optic nerve. Lowering pressure does not undo damage that has already happened, but it helps preserve the vision you still have. For most people, treatment begins with prescription eye drops used every day. Different drops work in different ways. Some reduce how much fluid the eye makes, and others help fluid drain out more easily. Using them exactly as prescribed matters, because glaucoma has no symptoms to remind you, and pressure rises again when doses are missed. Laser treatment is another option. A laser can help the drainage tissue work better, or make a small opening in the iris in narrow-angle eyes. When drops and laser are not enough, surgery can create a new channel for fluid to leave the eye, sometimes using a tiny drainage device. Whatever the treatment, regular follow-up visits track the pressure, the optic nerve, and the field of vision over time. This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Ask your eye doctor what's right for you.