Overview
Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve. The condition causes increased production and imbalance of eye fluid called aqueous humor. This excessive aqueous humor increases pressure in the eye and reduces the eye's ability to function properly. Glaucoma also causes canals that drain fluid to become clogged, blocked so they can't drain the fluid, leading to loss of vision.

Two types of glaucoma are commonly diagnosed:

• Open-angle glaucoma is the most common, causing a gradual increase of pressure in the eye.  The eye will drain, though slower than normal.
• Closed-angle glaucoma causes blocked or closure to the drainage canals in the eye, causing a rapid increase in pressure.

Benefits of Glaucoma Treatments
Glaucoma treatments, when offered early enough, may help to prevent vision loss. Individuals diagnosed with glaucoma must take care to receive treatments on a regular basis, as the disease is incurable and progressive. More severe cases may require surgery.

Common Glaucoma Treatments Include:
Medications - commonly used to treat glaucoma, including:

• Beta-blockers - help decrease the production of aqueous humor and are given in eye drop form.
• Cholinergic Agents - increase the output of aqueous humor. They're often prescribed as eye drops or ointments.
• Alpha agonists - designed to reduce the production of aqueous humor and to increase the outflow of eye fluid.

Glaucoma surgery may be recommended if eye drops or ointments are ineffective in controlling pressure in the eye. A common surgical technique is laser surgery designed to open clogged drainage canals with those diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma.

Those diagnosed with closed-angle glaucoma may undergo a procedure called laser peripheral iridectomy or iridotomy.  An anesthetic eye drop is placed in the eye prior to the procedure to help prevent pain. Individuals are typically able to return home the same day.

Filtration surgery is another method to treat glaucoma through which the surgeon creates a new drainage pathway that bypasses blocked or clogged canals. This type of same-day surgery is performed in a hospital.

Common approaches to glaucoma surgery include:

• Cyclophotocoagulation
• Glaucoma drainage device (a tube shunt)
• Laser peripheral Iridotomy (PI)
• Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT)
• Glaucoma filtration procedure (Trabeculectomy)

How much does Glaucoma treatments cost?
Glaucoma treatments depend on the method utilized.  Medications used to treat glaucoma cost an average of $1,650 a year for U.S. patients.  Surgical procedures to treat glaucoma are determined by the type and method of surgery, and for whether surgery is for open-angle or closed-angle glaucoma may range between $3,000 to $8,000, again depending on location, surgical approach, use of shunts or other tools and equipment. Glaucoma treatment options in other countries such as Mexico or Thailand may enjoy savings of between 35% and 50% on costs incurred in the U.S.

Who Performs Glaucoma Treatments?
An ophthalmologist should be licensed, trained and certified to perform cataract surgical procedures. He or she should also be trained to use of laser and ultrasound equipment. Medical licensing in the United States is by local, state, and national medical boards. A good choice would be a doctor who is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, or one who is associated with an academic medical center as they are more apt to be trained in new or advanced procedures.