Nurses play a crucial part in the management of people with degenerative sight conditions. Sue Watkinson explains some of the associated challenges and how to deal with them

This article focuses on the nursing care and management of older people with chronic open angle glaucoma (COAG). It provides an overview of the condition, its pathogenesis, clinical features, aetiology, diagnosis and approaches to care and treatment. Patient education and promotion of adherence to medical therapy are paramount in establishing the confidence and independence required for the long-term self-management of COAG because the majority of older people with this condition are based in the community.