Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve connection between the eye and the brain. The optic nerve is a bundle of millions of smaller nerve fibers wrapped together. These individual nerve fibers can be damaged if the fluid circulating within the eye fails to drain properly, causing pressure in the eye, which results in damage to the optic nerve.

When nerve fibers die, small blind spots begin to develop in a person’s field of vision. At first, the effect can be so subtle that most people will not notice it until the disease is already well advanced. If left untreated, glaucoma eventually causes blindness. For this reason, regular eye exams with modern diagnostic equipment are critical for glaucoma treatment, particularly for those at higher risk of the disease.

Studies have shown that certain groups, such as African Americans, have a higher incidence of glaucoma and experience it at a younger age than other racial groups. Others considered at risk are people with diabetes, anyone who has had a serious eye injury, people who have close relatives with glaucoma and older people in general.

Depending on your condition your surgeon will decide which surgery is best for you.

Filtering surgery – Using small instruments under an operating microscope, your surgeon creates an opening in the sclera — the white of your eye — and removes a small piece of eye tissue at the base of your cornea through which fluid drains from your eye.
Drainage implants – Some people with advanced glaucoma, or secondary glaucoma may be eligible for drainage implants. In this procedure, your eye surgeon inserts a small tube in your eye to facilitate draining fluid (aqueous humor) from your eye to reduce the pressure.
Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) – This opens clogs in your eye so fluid can drain out. Your doctor may treat half of the clogs first, see how well it works, then treat the other half later. ALT works in about 75% of people with the most common kind of glaucoma.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) – If ALT doesn’t work so well, your doctor may decide to beam a highly targeted low-level laser at just the spots where there’s pressure. You can do SLT a little at a time.
Laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) – If the space between your eye’s iris and cornea is too small, you can get narrow-angle glaucoma. Fluid and pressure build up in this area. LPI uses a laser beam to create a tiny hole in the iris.
Cyclophotocoagulation – If other laser treatment or surgery doesn’t ease fluid buildup and pressure, your doctor can try this. He’ll beam a laser into a structure inside your eye to ease pressure. You may need to repeat it over time to keep your glaucoma in check.