Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. It usually develops slowly and without pain. That means many people don’t notice anything until peripheral (side) vision narrows. If untreated, damage to the optic nerve causes permanent vision loss. The good news: early detection and proper treatment can slow or stop most progression.
Checkups often start with a few quick tests. Tonometry measures intraocular pressure (IOP). A visual field test (perimetry) checks for blind spots and peripheral vision loss. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images the optic nerve and retina to spot thinning. Gonioscopy looks at the drainage angle. Corneal pachymetry checks cornea thickness because that affects IOP readings. If you’re over 60, have a family history of glaucoma, are of African or Hispanic descent, or have diabetes, ask for a glaucoma screening more often—usually yearly or every 1–2 years depending on risk.
Treatment aims to lower IOP to protect the optic nerve. Most people start with medicated eye drops. Common classes include prostaglandin analogs (e.g., latanoprost), beta blockers (e.g., timolol), alpha agonists (e.g., brimonidine), and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., dorzolamide). Your doctor may combine drops or use oral meds briefly if needed.
If drops aren’t enough or you can’t use them reliably, laser trabeculoplasty—usually selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)—can improve drainage and lower pressure. For more advanced disease, surgeries like trabeculectomy, tube shunts, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) may be recommended. Each option has tradeoffs; ask your surgeon how they expect your pressure to change and what follow-up looks like.
Practical tips that help: learn proper eye-drop technique (tilt head back, pull lower lid to make a pocket, put one drop in, close eyes for one minute, wait five minutes between different drops). Keep a log or set phone reminders so doses aren’t missed—consistency matters more than the choice of brand in many cases. Store meds per label instructions and check expiration dates.
Know the red flags. Open-angle glaucoma is usually painless and slow, but sudden eye pain, very blurred vision, headache, nausea, or seeing halos around lights may signal angle-closure glaucoma or another emergency—get urgent care.
Living with glaucoma means regular visits (often every 3–12 months), tracking tests, and being honest with your eye doctor about whether you’re using drops correctly. Low-vision aids, magnifiers, and rehab services can help if vision loss occurs. Protecting what you have is the main goal—early care and steady treatment give most people a chance to keep useful vision for life.
If you have questions about testing, medication side effects, or treatment choices, bring them up at your next eye appointment. Clear answers make it easier to stick with a plan that protects your sight.
In one of my recent researches, I came across a fascinating connection between open-angle glaucoma and uveitis. It turns out that the inflammation caused by uveitis can increase the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma. This is mainly due to the damage it causes to the drainage system within our eyes, leading to increased ocular pressure. As a result, early detection and proper management of uveitis are crucial in preventing the onset of open-angle glaucoma. I believe that understanding this connection can help us take better care of our eye health and prevent vision loss in the future.