Special considerations for glaucoma management in the elderly

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Glaucoma is principally a disease that affects the elderly population. Although the same treatments are available for the elderly as the young, there are special considerations that have to be made for older patients.

Areas covered: This review will discuss the current management options for glaucoma highlighting the factors that particularly apply to the elderly population. The published literature on treatments for glaucoma with the terms ‘age’, ‘aging’, ‘older’ and ‘elderly’ were searched using PubMed.

Expert commentary: Topical medication may not be appropriate for all elderly patients due to particular side-effects and other intraocular pressure lowering treatments, including cataract surgery should be considered for these patients. Low target intraocular pressures are not always required in this age group and over-treatment of elderly patients should be avoided.

KEYWORDS:

• Glaucoma
• elderly
• management
• medication
• laser
• surgery
• adherence

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.