Glaucoma Patient Information

Glaucoma is a disease that has many manifestations, all of which can result in damage to the optic nerve in the eye. Glaucoma diseases are characterized by increased fluid pressure in the eye. Glaucoma can result in impaired vision and even blindness. Early treatment of glaucoma is essential in preventing permanent eye damage.

Open-angle Glaucoma

• Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma, according to the National Institutes of Health. This type of glaucoma occurs when the eye fluid drains too slowly from the eye, causing pressure to increase. The increased pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve.

Low-tension Glaucoma

• Low-tension glaucoma can also be referred to as normal-tension glaucoma. Individuals with low blood pressure are most at risk of developing low-tension glaucoma. This type of glaucoma causes problems with peripheral vision. Medications can be used to treat this type of glaucoma.

Angle-closure Glaucoma

• Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when there is a rapid and sudden increase in pressure inside the eye, preventing fluid from leaving the eye. This type of glaucoma can cause eye redness, blurry vision, nausea and intense pain. Angle-closure glaucoma requires immediate treatment because it can cause blindness in one or two days. Treatment might involve medicine and laser surgery.

Congenital Glaucoma

• Sometimes individuals are born with a ocular defect that restricts fluid drainage from the eye. Symptoms of congenital glaucoma include light sensitivity and cloudy, watery eyes. Children born with congenital glaucoma require surgery to correct the problem before the eyes sustain damage.

Secondary Glaucoma

• Other medical conditions sometimes cause glaucoma to develop. Such conditions cam include cataracts, tumors, injuries and inflammation. Another secondary glaucoma is pigmentary glaucoma, which is caused when the iris' pigment fragments, causing blockages restricting fluid drainage. The most severe secondary glaucoma is neovascular glaucoma, which is sometimes caused by diabetes. Glaucoma can sometimes occur as the result of using corticosteroid drugs to treat eye inflammation.

Risks of Glaucoma

• Blacks older than age 40 are the most at risk of developing glaucoma and they are also the most at risk for glaucoma-related blindness. The risk is also higher for people older than 60 years of age. Individuals with immediate family members who have glaucoma are also at an increased risk of developing glaucoma.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• An eye doctor will need to conduct an thorough eye exam, including eye dilation, to check for indications of glaucoma. Also, a tonometry test might be used to measure the amount of pressure in the eye. Individuals at a high risk of developing glaucoma can be given eye drops to significantly reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. Those who already have glaucoma might be able to slow the progression of the disease with medications in the form of pills or eye drops. Medications might work by either helping the eye to drain fluid more efficiently or by reducing the amount of fluid produced in the eye. In addition, a laser trabeculoplasty might be performed to increase the size of the drainage holes in the eye's meshwork so more fluid can drain. Also, conventional surgery might be used to create new a new drainage system for the eye.