Is There a Glaucoma Cure?
At this point, there is not a cure for
glaucoma, nor is there a way to reverse it. Vision lost from glaucoma cannot be restored. Until research scientists know specifically what causes glaucoma
(see Causes of Glaucoma), it is unlikely that a glaucoma cure will be found.
There are, however, some things that a person can do to possibly protect his or her vision. These include:
- If you are being treated for glaucoma, be sure to take your glaucoma medicine every day. While there is no glaucoma cure, glaucoma can usually be controlled with proper glaucoma treatment.
- See your eye care professional regularly.
- You can also help protect the vision of family members and friends who may be at high risk for glaucoma: African Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60 (especially Mexican Americans), and people with a family history of the disease. Encourage them to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. Remember that lowering eye pressure in glaucoma's early stages slows progression of the disease and helps save vision.
- Medicare covers an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam for some people at high risk for glaucoma. These people include those with diabetes, those with a family history of glaucoma, and African Americans age 50 and older.
