Can Glaucoma Be Cured? Understanding Treatment Goals

It can be very scary finding out you have been diagnosed with glaucoma. The most obvious question people ask is whether it can be cured considering it’s natural and losing your eyesight isn’t something we can deal with. However, the honest answer is that it cannot be cured. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, with the right glaucoma treatment we can help slow down your loss of eyesight or even prevent it from getting worse.

Why Can’t Glaucoma Be Cured?

Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve inside your eye, usually caused by a lot of strain on your eyes. Once the nerves are damaged, it cannot be reversed considering how delicate they are. These nerves are so delicate that they cannot regenerate. This is why doctors emphasize on detecting it early to prevent further loss of eyesight. All of this does sound very overwhelming, but glaucoma doesn’t have to lead to blindness. With modern technology, doctors can preserve your eyesight and protect it for as long as possible.

Managing Not Curing

Instead of searching for a cure, doctors focus on damage control. The main goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower the strain on your eyes, which will help prevent further damage to your nerves. It’s related to how we treat diabetes or blood pressure. There’s no definitive cure for them, but with modern medicine, you can live a long life without completely losing your vision.

Treatment Options

There isn’t one specific method that can help prevent further damage, there are multiple methods and techniques depending on how bad the damage from glaucoma is.

• Eye Drops: These are usually given first to reduce the strain on your eyes and they need to be used regularly because if you stop, the disease can progress and cause further damage. 
• Oral Medication: Sometimes the eye drops aren’t enough so doctors prescribe medicines.
• Laser Therapy: A quick procedure that will help with the fluid drainage in your eye.
• Surgery: In advanced cases, with surgical procedures, doctors can create new drainage pathways to keep the pressure normal.

Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, but the main goal of all of them is to preserve your eyesight. The doctors will guide you and ensure you get the right treatment based on the progression and damage.

Lifestyle and Regular Checkups

Managing glaucoma has two factors: medical treatments and lifestyle improvements. Making adjustments in your lifestyle can be a deciding factor on whether the treatment works or not. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and managing other health conditions like blood pressure and diabetes can significantly improve your chances of success. Additionally, you should be up to date with your eye checkups and exams. Glaucoma is a silent killer; it slowly kills your eyesight, and most people don’t even notice it before it’s too late. 

Finding out that you have glaucoma and then understanding that there’s no cure for it can be extremely overwhelming. But many patients live full and independent lives with the right treatment plan. With clinics like Dr. Agarwals, patients can get the utmost care and access to modern technology to ensure the highest chances of success. Remember that early detection gives you the best chance in preserving your vision.