New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually from high pressure inside the eye. It affects more than 3 million Americans and is a leading cause of blindness. Treatment has long focused on lowering eye pressure with drops, laser, or surgery, and most people who get early treatment keep useful vision.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing new ways to lower eye pressure, including longer-acting drug implants and improved laser techniques. Researchers are also studying neuroprotection drugs that might protect the optic nerve even when pressure isn't fully controlled, and gene therapies for rare inherited forms. Some studies focus on early detection through imaging and biomarkers.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on glaucoma type (open-angle, angle-closure, or other), eye pressure level, amount of optic nerve damage, and prior treatments.

What types of trials are currently open

• Drug implant trials — Testing small devices that release pressure-lowering medicine inside the eye for months at a time, aiming to replace daily drops.
• Neuroprotection trials — Testing drugs that protect the optic nerve from damage, even when eye pressure isn't fully controlled.
• Laser and surgical trials — Testing new laser techniques and minimally invasive surgeries that lower eye pressure with less risk than traditional surgery.
• Imaging studies — Using advanced scans to detect early optic nerve damage and track how glaucoma progresses over time.
• Observational studies — Following people with glaucoma to learn what factors predict vision loss and how different treatments work in real-world use.