Glaucoma Explained: What It Is and How to Manage It

When talking about glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often linked to elevated intraocular pressure. Also known as green disease, it can lead to irreversible vision loss if left unchecked. Understanding glaucoma is the first step toward protecting your sight.

One key player in glaucoma is intraocular pressure, the fluid pressure inside the eye that, when too high, pushes against the optic nerve. Glaucoma encompasses intraocular pressure issues and maintaining normal levels is essential for eye health.

Another core component is optic nerve damage, the loss of nerve fibers that carry visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma requires protecting the optic nerve because once those fibers are gone, vision cannot be restored.

Most patients start treatment with eye drops, medications applied directly to the eye to lower intraocular pressure. These drops are often the first line of defense, and they work by either reducing fluid production or improving drainage. Managing glaucoma involves daily eye drop routines that many people find easy to fit into their lives.

When drops aren’t enough, laser therapy, a non‑invasive procedure that improves fluid outflow or reduces production can step in. Laser treatment can slow disease progression and sometimes eliminates the need for surgery. Laser therapy influences glaucoma progression by creating better pathways for eye fluid.

Beyond these, surgery such as trabeculectomy or micro‑invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) offers another route when pressure remains stubbornly high. Age, family history, and conditions like diabetes raise the risk, so regular check‑ups become crucial. Knowing your risk factors helps you act early.

Diagnosis relies on tests like tonometry to measure intraocular pressure, ophthalmoscopy to view the optic nerve, and visual field testing to catch early loss. These assessments give a clear picture of how your eyes are faring and guide treatment choices. Early detection and consistent monitoring keep glaucoma under control.

Below you’ll find a curated set of articles covering everything from medication safety to the latest laser techniques, practical buying guides for eye‑care products, and lifestyle tips that support eye pressure management. Dive in to get the actionable info you need to stay ahead of glaucoma and protect your vision.