What is the target IOP concept in glaucoma management?

• A. The goal is to reduce IOP by a fixed 5% from baseline
• B. The goal is to reduce IOP by a percent (often 20-30%) from baseline to slow progression
• C. The goal is to keep IOP as low as possible at all times
• D. The goal is to eliminate IOP completely

Answer: (B)

In glaucoma management, the target is to lower intraocular pressure by a percentage from the baseline to slow vision loss. This approach lets you tailor treatment to how high the pressure started and how aggressive the disease is. A commonly used aim is about a 20–30% reduction from baseline, but the exact target is individualized based on factors like how high the baseline IOP is, how advanced the damage is, age, and other risk factors. The idea is to find an achievable, durable reduction that slows progression while keeping treatment tolerable and preserving quality of life. It’s important to remember that IOP cannot be eliminated entirely—there’s always some pressure due to ongoing aqueous humor production—and even eyes with normal-tension glaucoma can progress, so the goal is a meaningful reduction, not zero.