Glaucoma: a prescriber's guide

Abstract

Glaucoma is a common eye condition that features progressive optic nerve damage with corresponding visual field loss. According to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' The Way Forward: Glaucoma Report, it is destined to become an escalating problem due to an increasingly elderly population expected in the next 2 decades. In order to cope with the anticipated demand, hospital eye services are required to re-think the way care is delivered, and it is likely that more multidisciplinary clinical staff will be needed to manage glaucoma patients. Medical treatment with eye drops is sufficient for most patients, with surgery offered to those with worsening glaucoma despite medical and/or laser treatment, or patients who are intolerant to such treatment. This article aims to provide an overview of glaucoma with a focus on the prescribing options available and the associated challenges of the medical treatment of glaucoma.