Does glaucoma have a cure?
Quick answer
Glaucoma has no cure: damage already done to the optic nerve is permanent and cannot be reversed with any medication, laser, or surgery currently available. However, it is a controllable disease.
Glaucoma has no cure: damage already done to the optic nerve is permanent and cannot be reversed with any medication, laser, or surgery currently available.
However, it is a controllable disease. With timely diagnosis and consistent treatment — drops, laser, or surgery, depending on the case — it's possible to slow its progression and preserve useful vision for most patients for the rest of their lives.
The key is consistency: glaucoma is a chronic disease that requires lifelong periodic follow-up, even when the patient notices no symptoms. Stopping treatment is the most common cause of preventable progression.