For a mild glaucoma patient, what IOP range should we select?

• A. low teens (12-15)
• B. mid to high teens (16-19)
• C. high twenties (24-28)
• D. 8-12

Answer: (B)

Setting an IOP target is about protecting the optic nerve while keeping the eye safe from the downsides of too much pressure reduction. In mild glaucoma, you want a modest reduction that lands in the lower-to-middle part of the normal IOP range. This level typically slows or halts progression without the risk that comes with pushing pressures too low, such as hypotony, blurred vision, or other discomfort. It also avoids leaving the nerve exposed to ongoing damage that can occur if the pressure remains too high. Individual factors—baseline IOP, optic nerve status, disc findings, and how quickly fields are changing—shape the exact target, but the general aim for mild disease is a balanced, conservative reduction. Pressures that are too low or too high are both problematic, so the chosen target is the middle-ground option.