As treatments for glaucoma continue to advance and improve, new options are offering patients more ways to manage this common eye condition. From laser therapies to long-acting drug delivery systems, trends in treatment are shifting towards safer approaches that prioritize early intervention and vision preservation.
Whether you are in the earliest stages of the condition or have already lost some degree of your vision, you have more treatment choices than ever. Keep reading to learn more about new treatment trends in glaucoma.
Novel Eye Drops
Novel eye drops are advanced medicated drops that use innovative chemical mechanisms to reduce intraocular pressure. They include Rhopressa, a rho-kinase inhibitor that increases fluid drainage through the trabecular meshwork, and Vyzulta, a dual-mechanism eye drop that releases nitric acid to relax the trabecular meshwork.
Eye drops with novel formulations can be combined with other treatments or used as replacements for eye drops that are no longer effective in controlling intraocular pressure. Many novel eye drops require only a single application per day, making them ideal for patients who have difficulty applying multiple doses of drops.
Laser Treatment
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is used to treat open-angle glaucoma. It selectively targets specific cells in the eye’s trabecular meshwork to increase drainage and decrease intraocular pressure from fluid buildup.
SLT is a quick and virtually painless procedure. The precision laser used during the procedure minimizes damage and scarring of surrounding tissue.
MIGS (Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery)
MIGS refers to a category of minimally invasive surgical procedures designed to lower intraocular pressure with minimal tissue trauma. These procedures can involve implanting small medical devices like stents or using other techniques to increase eye fluid drainage or redirect fluid away from the eye.
The best candidates for MIGS are patients with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma. Many MIGS procedures are performed in conjunction with cataract surgery, with the additional glaucoma treatment adding only a few minutes to overall surgery time. Some MIGS procedures can also be performed as standalone treatments.
Sustained-Release Implants
Sustained-release implants offer long-term medication delivery, reducing the need for frequent eye drop applications and improving adherence to treatment regimens. Options approved by the FDA include implants that release medication for several months, as well as other implants that offer sustained medication release for 3-5 years.
Implants can be a life-changing treatment for patients who have trouble remembering to use their glaucoma eye drops or for those who find it challenging to use eye drops. By providing consistent treatment, they can help maintain a steady level of intraocular pressure.
Canaloplasty
Canaloplasty is a surgical procedure that treats open-angle glaucoma by widening the eye’s natural drainage channel, called the Schlemm’s canal, to lower intraocular pressure. A micro-catheter is guided through the full 360-degree length of Schlemm’s canal, dilating it and restoring fluid outflow.
Goniotomy
Goniotomy is a surgical procedure that can improve the drainage of ocular fluids. During the procedure, a magnifying goniotomy lens enables an eye surgeon to make precise incisions in the trabecular meshwork, increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid.
Originally developed to treat congenital glaucoma in children, it is also used today as a treatment for adults with open-angle glaucoma. It is a minimally invasive procedure that can be potential alternative to surgical implants.
What’s the Future of Glaucoma Treatment?
Research into more effective treatments and a possible cure for glaucoma is ongoing. The future of glaucoma treatment could include the following:
Neuroprotection
Researchers are developing treatments that could protect nerve cells in the eye, even in cases with elevated intraocular pressure. One focus is on stopping glutamate, a neurotransmitter that can damage nerve cells by overstimulating them, a condition known as excitotoxicity.
Gene Therapy
Experimental gene therapy trials for glaucoma aim to deliver therapeutic genes to ocular cells, specifically those in the trabecular meshwork and retinal ganglion cells. The hope is that these genes could increase ocular fluid outflow and protect nerve cells.
Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)
GWAS have already identified over 100 genetic markers associated with glaucoma and continue to search for additional ones. These findings could help develop more precise diagnostic tools and advanced, individualized treatment strategies for earlier detection and improved treatment outcomes.
With new treatment trends, a glaucoma diagnosis does not have to inevitably lead to total vision loss. Current treatments can help protect the quality of your vision by increasing ocular fluid drainage and lowering intraocular pressure, while future treatments may be able to prevent vision loss altogether by protecting nerve cells and providing a diagnosis long before an individual experiences vision loss from glaucoma.
Don’t let glaucoma compromise your vision when advanced treatment options are available to help preserve your sight. Schedule an appointment at RGB Cataract & LASIK in Sherman, TX, today by calling (903) 892-3282!
