The management of primary open angle glaucoma

doi:10.1136/dtb.1997.3514

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1997;35:4-6; doi:10.1136/dtb.1997.3514

The management of primary open angle glaucoma

Relevant BNF section: 11.6

Glaucoma is one of the commonest causes of blindness in theworld.¹ In the UK, about 7% of people over the age of 75 yearshave primary open angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma²and the cause of visual impairment in about 13% of those registeredblind.^3,4 Early detection and treatment can usually preventblindness.⁵ However, half of all patients with primary openangle glaucoma in the UK do not present until vision has begunto deteriorate.⁶ Here we consider ways of improving detectionand management.