Glaucoma:
Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition in which the eye's intraocular pressure (IOP) is too high. This means that your eye has too much aqueous humor in it, either because it produced too much, or because it's not draining properly. Other symptoms are optic nerve damage and vision loss.

What's the difference between glaucoma and ocular hypertension?

Ocular hypertension is another term for high IOP; the pressure is not high enough to cause optic nerve damage and vision loss.

Why does my eye doctor want to do more than one kind of glaucoma test?

The "puff test" that most people are familiar with measures IOP. But a more modern method many doctors use to measure eye pressure involves placing an applanation tonometer against your eye to determine how much resistance there is.

Your doctor may also want to check for optic nerve damage by dilating your eyes, or to check for vision loss with a visual field test.

Who's at the most risk for glaucoma?

If you're over age 60, African-American, diabetic or have a family member with glaucoma, you are at higher risk for glaucoma than others.

Is there any way to prevent glaucoma?

Doctors don't know of any way to prevent glaucoma. Dr. Burt Dubow, optometrist and AllAboutVision.com board member, said:

"Current research is suggesting that optic nerve nutrition can be enhanced with certain drugs and also with certain nutritional agents, like gingko biloba.

"My suggestion would be to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, eat a healthy diet, keep your weight down, exercise, take nutritional products and be sure to see your eye specialist on a regular basis."

What are the signs and symptoms of glaucoma?

There are usually no signs that you're developing glaucoma until vision loss occurs, which is why it's so important to have regular eye exams. Your eye doctor can discuss symptoms with you as well as diagnose and treat high IOP before it progresses to optic nerve damage and vision loss.

What are the different types of glaucoma?

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma. The other types are: normal-tension, narrow-angle, closed-angle, congenital, pigmentary and secondary.

Is glaucoma curable?

No, but it's important to undergo glaucoma treatment to prevent blindness.

What glaucoma treatments are currently available?

Doctors usually prescribe special glaucoma eye drops that reduce intraocular pressure. These are used one or several times a day, depending on the medication. If the drops don't work, surgery may be the next step. In some cases, surgery might be the first option for treatment.

Can marijuana be used to treat glaucoma?

Not really. While some people tout "natural" benefits of marijuana for treating glaucoma, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says side effects far outweigh any possible benefit that typically is greatly exaggerated. You're much better off using prescribed medication or treatment that is far more effective than marijuana.

Can I still have LASIK surgery if I have glaucoma?

Glaucoma is usually a disqualifier for LASIK, although you might be a candidate for another type of laser vision correction procedure such as PRK.

[Page updated May 2009]