Medical therapy for glaucoma

Glaucoma Trial (EMGT), suggest that chronic differences of just a few millimeters of mercury may be significant in stabilizing glaucoma (Table 15.1). As in other disciplines of medicine, the decision on when to initiate treatment and the selection of therapy is based on the individual patient. In addition to carefully assessing the expense, inconvenience, and potential ocular and systemic side-effects of treatment, the patient’s over all health and life expectancy are also considered. These factors will help to determine how aggressively an individual patient should be treated, since the goal of therapy is the preservation of useful vision for the patient’s lifetime.