About Normal Pressure Glaucoma Treatment

It is possible to have normal tension glaucoma for a long time and not even realize it. Given all of the treatment options available for the early stages of normal tension glaucoma, it is always a good idea to get regular vision tests to make sure the condition is caught while it can still be successfully contained.

Identification

• Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve over time. Some forms of glaucoma cause damage to the optic nerve because of a buildup of fluid in the eye, while other forms of glaucoma are the result of poor blood flow to the optic nerve.
  Normal pressure glaucoma, or normal tension glaucoma, happens over time without the raising of pressure in the eye. This is an open-angle form of glaucoma, which means that it occurs over a long period of time and can be difficult to diagnose. One of the main contributing factors to the onset of normal tension glaucoma is a lack of proper blood flow to the optic nerve. Another is a slow buildup of fluids in the eye that works in conjunction with the lack of blood flow to damage the optic nerve.

Medication

• Medication is sometimes used as a treatment for normal tension glaucoma. In many cases, medicines are targeted more at conditions that could be causing the normal tension glaucoma such as hyperthyroidism and migraine headaches. Various medications are used to combat the various conditions that could be behind the normal tension glaucoma and these include brimonidine which is supposed to help stimulate the optical nerve, and adrenergic agonists, which increase the flow of fluids from the eye and help reduce the occurrence of pressure in the eye.

Surgery

• If medication does not get the desired results, then a surgical treatment known as laser trabeculoplasty can be attempted. This is a form of laser surgery that is used primarily on open-angle glaucoma patients to open up the drainage tubes in the eyes and allow the eyes to drain properly. This can initially help to reduce the pressure on the eye, and help to reduce the effect of the glaucoma.

Permanent Damage

• Even with proper treatment, the damage done to an optic nerve is irreversible. Once the nerve has been damaged because of damage to the eye itself, then there is no way to return the lost field of vision. But by controlling normal tension glaucoma, it is possible to limit its effects and allow the person to be able to see with the aid of contact lenses or special glasses.

Future Research

• One of the drawbacks to surgery in the treatment of normal tension glaucoma is the possible appearance of cataracts. Because normal tension glaucoma advances at such a slow pace, it might be possible to treat the condition with medication without having to resort to surgery. Because of the potential for cataracts with glaucoma surgery, doctors are working on developing more powerful eyedrops and medications to assist in the treatment of normal tension glaucoma.