Best Treatments for Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a fairly common and very serious eye disease that leads to blindness. The disease gradually destroys the retina, damaging the optic nerves. If you do not start treatment, the person will completely lose his sight. Fortunately, thanks to modern medicine, this process can be stopped.

The following fact speaks eloquently about the danger of glaucoma – every minute in the world one person goes blind because of it.¹. The disease destroys the retina, increases intraocular pressure and damages the optic nerve, causing vision to deteriorate rapidly.

Glaucoma can form at any age, but is most often diagnosed after the age of 50. The main symptoms of the disease:

narrowing of the field of view from the periphery to the center;
increased intraocular pressure;
“fog” and iridescent circles before the eyes;
pain in the region of the superciliary arches.

There are several effective treatments for glaucoma that can slow the progression of the disease and preserve vision. Let’s consider the main ones.

1. Drops for glaucoma

In the early stages of glaucoma treatment, medication is effective, which includes anti-glaucoma eye drops. These latest generation drugs reduce the production of intraocular fluid and improve its outflow, thereby normalizing intraocular pressure.

When prescribing drops, the doctor should be aware of all the patient’s chronic diseases, since the components of drops from glaucoma can negatively affect the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and organs of the respiratory system. If contraindications to the use of drops are identified, then the ophthalmologist will choose alternative methods of treatment. Important: All antiglaucoma drugs are available by prescription.

Antiglaucoma drops are divided into 2 groups: drugs that improve the outflow of intraocular fluid, and drugs that reduce its production.

Drugs that improve the outflow of intraocular fluid

Xalatan

The drug with the active substance latanoprost is available in the form of eye drops. Xalatan improves the outflow of fluid, thereby reducing intraocular pressure.

The action of the drug begins after 4 – 8 hours after instillation. The maximum effect is observed after 12-XNUMX hours and persists for a day. Use Xalatan once a day, preferably at bedtime.

The drug is intended for the treatment of adults and children from 1 year. Among the contraindications – individual sensitivity to the components of the drug.

Travatan

Eye drops from the Belgian manufacturer contain travoprost, a substance that enhances the outflow of intraocular fluid and reduces intraocular pressure. The effect of the drug is observed 2 hours after application, and the maximum effect develops after 12 hours. The recommended scheme of application is 1 time per day.

Contraindications: age under 18 years, individual hypersensitivity to travoprost, pregnancy. Use during breastfeeding is possible only as directed by a doctor.

Drugs that reduce the production of intraocular fluid

Arutimol

German antiglaucoma drops when applied topically reduce elevated intraocular pressure. The drug is prescribed for increased intraocular pressure, chronic open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma, secondary and congenital glaucoma, if other methods of treatment do not help.

The action of the drug begins 20 minutes after instillation. The maximum decrease in intraocular pressure occurs after 1-2 hours and can last up to 24 hours.

Contraindications: bronchial asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, severe heart failure, severe allergic rhinitis, individual hypersensitivity. The safety of use during pregnancy has not been studied.

Betaxolol 0,5%

Russian-made antiglaucoma drops are prescribed for elevated intraocular pressure and open-angle glaucoma. In addition to lowering intraocular pressure, the drops improve ocular blood circulation, do not cause constriction of the pupils and the “veil” effect before the eyes.

The drug begins to act after 30 minutes, and the maximum effect is achieved after 2 hours, the duration of action is up to 24 hours.

Contraindications: severe heart failure, sinus bradycardia, severe bronchial asthma, individual hypersensitivity, age up to 18 years, breastfeeding period. Use during pregnancy is possible if the benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus.

Proxodolol

Another Russian drug prescribed for open- and closed-angle glaucoma, as well as secondary glaucoma. The active substance proxodolol reduces the production of intraocular fluid and reduces intraocular pressure, while it does not affect pupil size and visual acuity and does not irritate the mucous membrane of the eye.

The hypotensive effect of the drug occurs 15-30 minutes after instillation and reaches a maximum after 4-6 hours. The duration of the drops is about a day.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, bronchial asthma, obstructive diseases of the bronchi and lungs, sinus bradycardia, severe heart failure.

Azopt

Brinzolamide-based drops are prescribed for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The drug acts for 12 hours, so the recommended regimen is 2 times a day.

Contraindications: individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, severe renal dysfunction, breastfeeding, age up to 18 years. Use during pregnancy is possible only on prescription.

Trusopt

Drops from a French manufacturer are prescribed for increased intraocular pressure, primary open-angle glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. The drug is relatively safe and can be used in children from the first week of life. The usual therapeutic dose is 1 drop in the affected eye 3 times a day.

Contraindications: individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, severe renal dysfunction, pregnancy and lactation.

Combined funds

Combined drugs are designed for those patients in whom therapy with monodrugs (which contain only one active substance) did not give a significant effect.

Brinarga

The Indian combined preparation contains two active substances: brinzolamide and timolol, which enhance each other’s action. Brinarga reduces intraocular pressure by reducing the production of intraocular fluid and improve its outflow. Drops are prescribed for increased intraocular pressure and open-angle glaucoma.

Contraindications: bronchial asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, sinus bradycardia, cardiogenic shock, severe heart and kidney failure, pregnancy, lactation, age up to 18 years.

Dorthymol Antiglau Eco

The Polish-made preparation contains two active substances – dorzolamide and timolol, which, in a complex action, quickly reduce intraocular pressure. Drops begin to act within 20 minutes after application, and the effect lasts for at least 24 hours.

Contraindications asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, sinus bradycardia, heart failure, hypersensitivity to one of the components of the drug, pregnancy and lactation, children under 18 years of age.

2. Neuroprotectors

Neuroprotectors for glaucoma help protect retinal and optic nerve neurons from damage, improve blood circulation and oxygen supply to the organs of vision.

For example, glycine at a daily dosage of 600 mg per day is actively used in the treatment of ischemic lesions and can be used in the treatment of glaucoma changes.².

Mexidol helps to improve visual acuity in patients with all stages of glaucoma. The drug protects cell membranes from damage, improves blood circulation in the organs of vision, has an antioxidant effect and can be used in the complex therapy of glaucoma.³.

Cortexin (especially in combination with magnetotherapy) improves visual acuity in patients with open-angle glaucoma⁴.

3. Laser treatment for glaucoma

Laser treatment of glaucoma is a modern, safe and effective method and is primarily recommended for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, but can also be used in other forms of the disease.

The main advantages of laser therapy are low trauma, the absence of serious complications, and the ability to repeat the procedure after some time.

Laser iridotomy

During the operation, a microscopic hole or several holes are created in the iris of the eye, which improve the outflow of intraocular fluid. As a result, intraocular pressure decreases, making it easier for the patient even with angle-closure glaucoma.

Laser trabeculoplasty

The procedure is recommended for patients with open-angle and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. Laser exposure is indicated as the primary method of treatment, and also if drug therapy does not give significant results.

During the procedure, using a laser, the doctor acts on the cells of the trabecular zone, which is located in the anterior corner of the eye and is responsible for the outflow of intraocular fluid. Thanks to trabeculoplasty, intraocular pressure, on average, is reduced by 20-25%. The procedure is especially effective in patients over 40 years of age.

Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation

This laser treatment for glaucoma can be performed on an outpatient basis, as it does not involve incisions, takes little time and does not require long-term rehabilitation. Laser micropulses do not allow tissues to overheat and do not damage eye vessels.

The effect of the operation is to reduce the production of intraocular fluid and improve its outflow. This type of laser therapy is prescribed for primary open-angle glaucoma in the later stages (if previous treatment has not helped), as well as for glaucoma with high intraocular pressure and pain.

4. Surgery for glaucoma

The decision to perform a surgical operation is made by an ophthalmologist if:

medical and laser methods were ineffective, the patient has high intraocular pressure;
the deterioration of vision continues, although the level of IOP does not exceed the average statistical norm;
the patient is contraindicated in taking medications, or side effects are manifested;
the patient does not comply with medical recommendations, so the course of treatment cannot be controlled.

The doctor chooses the option of surgical treatment in each case individually. Modern surgical methods practically do not cause complications, provide a stable decrease in intraocular pressure and improve the patient’s quality of life.

The “gold standard” for the surgical treatment of glaucoma is sinustrabeculectomy with basal iridectomy. During the procedure, an additional outflow path for intraocular fluid is created. The operation lasts about 20 minutes, and after 2-3 weeks it is necessary to follow a strict schedule of instillation of drugs that reduce the risk of complications.

5. Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for glaucoma is used as an auxiliary method that complements drug therapy, laser or surgical treatment.

Magnetotherapy

The magnetic field normalizes the elasticity and tone of blood vessels, improves blood flow, increases the diameter and number of functioning capillaries.

Electrophoresis

Prevents irreversible changes that occur in the retina due to poor blood supply.

Ultrasound

Increases the permeability of cell membranes, promotes the outflow of intraocular fluid, enhances the accumulation of medicinal substances in tissues.

Prevention of glaucoma at home

“Fog” before the eyes, photosensitivity, pain in the eyebrows and temples – all these symptoms should alert a person. It is also necessary to consult an ophthalmologist if there have already been cases of glaucoma in the family.

Simple and effective rules for the prevention of glaucoma:

limit the psycho-emotional load;
set up the right lighting in the workplace;
quit smoking;
eat right. Include raw vegetables and fruits, fish in your diet;
do not forget about a full 8-hour sleep;
avoid sudden changes in lighting
keep an even position of the head while working at the computer, drawing, sketching, embroidering;
visit an ophthalmologist at least 1-2 times a year.