Is glaucoma curable?

Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to your eye’s optical nerve—the nerve that connects the eye to the brain—and causes blindness. There are different types of glaucoma, but the most common types often have few to no symptoms other than loss of vision. This why most people don’t know they have the disease.

Main symptoms and causes of glaucoma

The symptoms of glaucoma can be uncomfortable and damaging, especially if left untreated. If you experience severe headaches, eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, redness in the eyes, or see halos of light, go see your eye doctor. If it is left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness.

There are many different risk factors that pertain to glaucoma. Some of those causes include:

• Having high internal eye pressure
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Having corneas that are thin in the center
• Being over the age of 60

Best treatments for glaucoma

Unfortunately, glaucoma cannot be cured; however, it can be treated. There are ways to prevent and slow further damage to your eyes, such as laser procedures, eye drops, medications, and surgical operations.

Glaucoma is typically treated by lowering the eye’s pressure. Depending on how much damage the glaucoma has caused, your options for treatment may vary, and you may even need a combination of different types of care. 

With glaucoma, you will need to have regular eye examinations because they detect progression and can help prevent vision loss. The earlier glaucoma is detected, the more of a chance you have for an even better outcome.

Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness, and it most often occurs in people over the age of 40, but it can occur in younger adults and children. Though glaucoma can’t be cured, at least not yet, there are many different options for treatment to prevent any further damage.