3. Advances in the treatment of glaucoma

Abstract EN

Glaucoma is a group of conditions, which causes a characteristic and progressive optic neuropathy1.

This leads to a gradual reduction in the visual field, and ultimately, legal blindness.

There is no cure, but treatment focuses on reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye, which is proven to delay glaucoma progression and blindness2.

IOP remains the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma.

IOP can be reduced by topical medications, laser treatment and glaucoma drainage surgery.

Glaucoma is now the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world.

It is estimated that there are 67 million people in the world with glaucoma, and 6.7 million are blind from the condition3.

With rudimentary screening and treatment facilities in most parts of the world, and an aging population in the developed world, glaucoma will continue to contribute significantly to the burden of blindness and will place increasing pressures on various health economies, which are already strained.

The sub-speciality of glaucoma has undergone a process of rapid change in recent years.

The glaucoma surgeon has several treatment options at his/her disposal, which can be tailored to suit individual patients to preserve their visual function long-term.

This update outlines some of the advances in the treatment of glaucoma, which have contributed to the changes in our management strategy for this leading cause of blindness.