Glaucoma Eye Symptoms

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that result in optic nerve damage. The second leading cause of blindness, glaucoma is usually---but not always---caused by abnormally high pressure inside your eye.

Types

• There are two major types of glaucoma---open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease, and refers to partially blocked drainage channels in the eye. Closed-angle glaucoma occurs when the drainage channel is completely blocked.

Risk Factors

• Glaucoma can affect anyone, but certain factors increase your risk of developing it. Age, specifically people over the age of 60, a family history of glaucoma and having certain medical conditions such as diabetes increase your risk of developing glaucoma.

Symptoms

• Open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms initially. The gradual buildup of pressure in the eye will slowly produce vision problems such as lost peripheral vision. Closed-angle glaucoma happens suddenly, and symptoms include severe pain and blurred vision.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose glaucoma, your eye doctor will perform a tonometry, which will measure the pressure in your eye. He may also dilate your pupils in order to check the eye for possible early warning signs of the disease.

Treatment

• Medicated eye drops are usually the first line of treatment for glaucoma, as these help to lower the pressure in your eyes. For those patients who find medications ineffective, surgery is an option.