Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

What type of treatment is typically used for glaucoma?

1. Laser surgery

2. Medications to decrease intraocular pressure

3. Eye drops to increase fluid drainage

4. Antibiotics

The correct answer is: Medications to decrease intraocular pressure

Medications to decrease intraocular pressure are a primary treatment for glaucoma because this condition involves increased pressure within the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. These medications are specifically formulated to either reduce the production of aqueous humor (the fluid inside the eye) or enhance its outflow, effectively lowering the intraocular pressure that characterizes glaucoma. While laser surgery and eye drops that increase fluid drainage can also be part of glaucoma management strategies, they are not the first line of treatment for most patients. Laser surgery may be considered in cases where medications are not effective or sufficient, and eye drops meant to increase drainage are less common than those that decrease pressure. Antibiotics are generally used to treat infections and are not relevant in the management of glaucoma, which is fundamentally an issue of pressure regulation rather than infection. Thus, the use of medications to decrease intraocular pressure represents the most common and straightforward approach to effectively managing this condition.