In glaucoma care, what is the main purpose of setting a target IOP?

• A. To slow/halt the disease without over-treatment
• B. To achieve zero IOP in all patients
• C. To maximize medication costs
• D. To accelerate progression

Answer: (A)

Setting a target IOP gives a patient-specific goal for therapy that aims to slow or halt glaucoma progression while avoiding over-treatment and its side effects. This target is chosen based on how severe the disease is, how quickly it’s advancing, and how long the patient is expected to benefit from treatment, guiding decisions about medications, laser, or surgery and when to escalate or maintain therapy. We don’t aim for zero IOP because some residual pressure is often present and IOP fluctuates; what matters is staying at or below the target to minimize damage. The goal is to balance effective protection of vision with safety and practicality, not to spend unnecessarily or worsen progression.