How is glaucoma treated?

To treat glaucoma, an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery) prescribes eyedrops that contain medicine that helps to lower the pressure inside the eye, thereby reducing the risk for future optic nerve damage and preventing further vision loss (see How to Instill Your Eyedrops). Sometimes, if eyedrops alone do not lower the pressure enough, laser procedures or surgery performed by an ophthalmologist are necessary to lower the pressure inside the eye.