Question
Uncle has been having trouble with his eyes lately; he finds it difficult to see things clearly, even from a distance of 10 meters. He recently went to an ophthalmology department in a nearby county-level hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said he has glaucoma, which is quite common, and was advised to actively cooperate in treatment to reduce intraocular pressure and protect his vision. Is glaucoma curable?
Answer
Glaucoma is quite common and is one of the most common eye diseases, characterized by increased intraocular pressure, optic nerve atrophy, and field defects. In most cases, the cause of optic nerve damage is primarily high intraocular pressure, although there are also a few patients who appear to have normal intraocular pressure, known as normal tension glaucoma. Generally speaking, glaucoma cannot be cured but can be suppressed. Many people believe that medication or surgery can suppress high intraocular pressure within a safe range, even if it heals spontaneously. In fact, glaucoma is only suppressed but not cured. Even after medication or surgery has successfully suppressed the intraocular pressure, daily care is still necessary.