About this topic
Glaucoma is an eye problem where the fluid inside the eye is not draining well. This increases the pressure inside the eye. This pressure can damage the nerve that helps you see. When long-term glaucoma is not treated, it can cause blindness. There are different types of glaucoma: ‚
- Open-angle glaucoma ¢ ˆ ’ The fluid inside the eye is draining but too slowly. Signs of eyesight problems happen over time.
- Closed-angle glaucoma ¢ ˆ ’ The fluid in front of the eye cannot drain at all. Signs of eyesight problems are more sudden and more severe.
- Developmental glaucoma ¢ ˆ ’ Most often happens around the time of birth.
Doctors find this illness by doing regular eye exams and measuring eye pressure. Glaucoma can be treated using drugs, but sometimes surgery is needed to make a passage for the fluid to drain. Surgery may be done with a laser or a microscope. Your doctor will recommend the one that is best for your type of glaucoma. ‚
If glaucoma is treated early, before any loss of vision, your eyesight should remain good. If you have any loss of eyesight, these treatments will not give you back the eyesight you have already lost. Drugs and surgery will only prevent more loss of eyesight. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs and eye drops as ordered by your doctor.
- If laser surgery was done:
- Your eye may be irritated and your eyesight blurry after the surgery. This should go away in a day or two.
- You may return to your regular activities the day after the surgery.
- You will need to use eye drops a few times each day to help with any irritation.
- If regular surgery was done:
- It may take 1 to 2 weeks to get back to a normal routine.
- Eye drops will be needed until the eye is healed. This make take 2 to 3 months.
- Do not touch your eyes. If your eyes feel itchy, use a damp, clean, soft cloth and gently wipe the eye.
- Your doctor will let you know what activities you will need to avoid after surgery. Most often, you will need to avoid driving, reading, bending, and lifting anything heavy for a week after surgery.
- You may need to wear eyeglasses that the doctor gives you to protect the eye. This will help prevent anything from getting into your eyes.
- You may need someone to help you at home after the surgery.
- Do not touch your eyes. When your eye feels itchy, use a dampened, clean, soft washcloth and gently wipe the itchy eye.
- The doctor may give you some protective glasses to wear. This will help prevent dust and germs from getting into your eyes.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor will ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Lower pressure in the eyes
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
- If you had regular surgery, your doctor will let you know what activities you will need to avoid. Most often, you will need to avoid driving, reading, bending, and lifting anything heavy for a week after surgery.
- If you had laser surgery, you may return to your regular activities the day after surgery.
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Loss of good eyesight
- Blindness
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Have an eye exam each year. Have your eye pressure checked at each visit.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. This includes redness, yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; very bad itchiness; lots of tearing or watering from the eye.
- Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher
- Very bad eye pain
- Sudden loss or change in eyesight
Helpful tips
- Some eye drops may cause a bitter taste in the mouth after using. Taking a drink of water will help get rid of the taste.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my eyes.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a loss of eyesight, eye pain, eye drainage, or cloudy or blurred eyesight after surgery.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Ophthalmology ‚
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/glaucoma/treatment.cfm ‚
Glaucoma Research Foundation ‚
http://www.glaucoma.org/treatment/surgery-overview.php ‚
National Eye Institute ‚
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp ‚
National Glaucoma Research ¢ ˆ ’ American Health Assistance Foundation ‚
http://www.ahaf.org/glaucoma/treatment/common/ ‚
The Glaucoma Foundation ‚
http://www.glaucomafoundation.org/treating_glaucoma.htm ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-04-08 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚