Can open-angle glaucoma patients avoid blindness for life?
Feb 27, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Cui Xin
Introduction
Patients with open-angle glaucoma may avoid blindness for life if they strictly follow their doctor's treatment instructions. Conversely, if treatment is delayed, improperly managed, or if complications arise due to inadequate postoperative care, blindness may occur. After developing this condition, it is recommended to actively seek standardized treatment under the guidance of a physician.
Patients with open-angle glaucoma may avoid blindness for their entire lives if they strictly follow medical advice and treatment plans. Conversely, if patients fail to receive timely treatment, use inappropriate treatment methods, or develop complications due to improper postoperative care, blindness may occur.
1. Possible to maintain vision for life
After the onset of open-angle glaucoma, if patients consistently follow medical instructions throughout life—using prescribed medications regularly and maintaining intraocular pressure within a normal range—the progression of glaucomatous damage can usually be halted or slowed. This helps prevent further deterioration of vision and protects remaining visual function, making it possible to preserve useful vision indefinitely.
2. Risk of eventual blindness
If open-angle glaucoma is not recognized early and treatment is delayed or inadequate, the patient's visual field in both eyes may progressively narrow, with irreversible vision loss that continues until only a small central island of vision remains, potentially leading to complete blindness. Additionally, inappropriate treatment methods may fail to control eye pressure effectively, resulting in ongoing optic nerve damage and ultimately blindness. Furthermore, improper eye care after surgery—such as overuse of the eyes or poor eye hygiene—may compromise surgical outcomes and lead to complications such as intraocular hemorrhage or inflammation. These complications can also contribute to vision loss and blindness.
Once diagnosed with this condition, it is recommended to actively pursue standardized treatment under a physician’s guidance to improve disease management, prevent worsening, and minimize impacts on daily activities and quality of life.
