Eye diseases may cause minor damage to the eye, but some conditions result in serious vision loss. Doctors determine treatments for eye disease based on the disease itself, since some respond best to certain methods. Knowing about the options may help when discussing treatments for eye diseases with an ophthalmologist.
Eye Drops
Doctors treat some eye conditions with eye drops. In a condition such as glaucoma, the patient must use eye drops one or more times a day to lower eye pressure, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Eye doctors also treat recurrent viruses such as shingles with anti-viral eye drops. In these situations, the person will use the drops for a specified time frame, usually until a few days after the shingles flare-up has resolved.
Antibiotic eye drops are often prescribed for conjunctivitis, a contagious but common eye infection. When a doctor prescribes these medications, the patient should use the drops as directed; if the drops require use for only a specific time period, they should not stop the drops before the last recommended dose.
Oral Medications
Some eye conditions require oral medication. For example, cellulitis that affects the eye area around the eye often requires oral antibiotics to reduce the infection and swelling, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. As well, in extreme spikes of eye pressure, glaucoma patients may require an oral medication to help lower the eye pressure quickly. People with shingles may also take oral anti-viral medications during the flare-up to help reduce the duration of the inflammation.
Laser
Doctors must use laser treatments for some eye diseases. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when new blood vessels grow on the retina, the back lining of the eye. If these new vessels leak, this will cause swelling of the the tiny yellow portion of the retina called the macula, possibly resulting in permanent vision loss, according to the National Eye Institute. The ophthalmologist will use a laser to make small laser burns to stop this new growth and leaking vessels.
Surgery
In some cases, the doctor must treat eye disease with surgery. Doctors can perform surgery on the back of the eye to repair a detached retina, or surgeons may treat the front of the eye. For example, corneal diseases, such as Fuchs' dystrophy, may causes severe corneal clouding in advanced stages. This cloudiness will start to impair vision, possibly resulting in the need for a corneal transplant to save sight, according to the National Eye Institute.
