Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma treatment lowers the pressure inside the eye to protect the optic nerve and preserve sight. Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, often through raised eye pressure, and can cause irreversible vision loss if untreated. Treatment ranges from pressure-lowering eye drops to laser procedures and drainage surgery, chosen by the type and severity.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually when pressure inside the eye is too high, and the vision it causes you to lose cannot be recovered — so the aim of treatment is to lower eye pressure and protect the sight you still have. It often develops slowly and without symptoms, which is why detection through eye-pressure, optic-nerve and visual-field testing matters. The first treatment for most people is pressure-lowering eye drops, used regularly to control the condition.
When drops are not enough or not tolerated, laser treatment can improve the eye's natural drainage (for example selective laser trabeculoplasty) or, in certain types, open a new drainage route. Surgery — such as trabeculectomy, a drainage implant, or newer minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) — creates a controlled new pathway for fluid to leave the eye and lower the pressure. The right choice depends on the type of glaucoma and how advanced it is.
Glaucoma is a long-term condition needing ongoing monitoring rather than a one-time cure. International patients receive a coordinator who arranges assessment, any procedure and follow-up, and our specialists can review your pressure readings, optic-nerve imaging and visual fields remotely to advise on the best treatment before you travel.
Who is a candidate?
- People diagnosed with glaucoma or raised eye pressure threatening the optic nerve
- Patients whose eye pressure is not adequately controlled by eye drops alone
- Those who cannot tolerate or reliably use pressure-lowering drops
- People with certain types of glaucoma where laser or surgery is the better first step
- Patients seeking a second opinion on how best to protect their remaining vision
What happens
- 1
Assessment
Eye-pressure measurement, optic-nerve imaging and visual-field testing confirm the diagnosis, the type of glaucoma and how advanced it is, guiding treatment.
- 2
Medical treatment
For most people, pressure-lowering eye drops are the first step, used regularly. Your ophthalmologist explains how and when to use them and monitors their effect.
- 3
Laser treatment
If drops are not enough, a quick laser procedure can improve the eye's drainage or, in some types, open a new route. It is done with anesthetic drops in minutes, usually as a day case.
- 4
Surgery when needed
If pressure remains high, drainage surgery — trabeculectomy, a drainage implant, or minimally invasive surgery (MIGS) — creates a controlled new pathway for fluid to lower the pressure.
- 5
Ongoing monitoring
Because glaucoma is long-term, regular checks track eye pressure and the optic nerve. International patients receive a monitoring plan that can continue with their eye doctor at home.
Benefits
- Lowers eye pressure to protect the optic nerve and preserve remaining sight
- A clear treatment ladder — from drops to laser to surgery — matched to your glaucoma
- Laser treatment is quick, done with drops, and usually a same-day procedure
- Minimally invasive surgery (MIGS) options can suit selected patients
- Detection and monitoring catch a condition that often has no early symptoms
Risks & considerations
- Treatment protects remaining vision but cannot restore sight already lost to glaucoma
- Eye drops can cause local irritation or other side effects in some people
- After drainage surgery, eye pressure can sometimes become too low or too high and need adjustment
- Infection, scarring of a drainage site, or cataract formation as possible surgical risks
- Glaucoma is long-term and needs continued monitoring even when controlled
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Eye Diseases & Laser Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Glaucoma Treatment — frequently asked questions
Treatment lowers the pressure inside the eye to protect the optic nerve. It usually begins with pressure-lowering eye drops, and adds laser treatment or drainage surgery if drops are not enough, depending on the type and severity of glaucoma.
No. The vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, which is why the aim is to control eye pressure and protect the sight you still have. Early detection and consistent treatment are key to preserving vision.
Many people control glaucoma with long-term eye drops. If drops are not enough or not tolerated, laser or surgery may reduce or remove the need for them, but glaucoma is a long-term condition that needs ongoing monitoring.
Yes. Share your eye-pressure readings, optic-nerve imaging and visual-field results and our specialists advise on the best treatment before you commit to travel.
Laser is usually a quick day case; drainage surgery is also often a day case but needs follow-up checks over the following weeks — your coordinator confirms how long to stay. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case rather than a fixed online price.
Considering glaucoma treatment?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.