What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve - the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. This damage can lead to permanent vision loss and, in advanced cases, blindness. Glaucoma is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), the pressure inside the eye. …
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve - the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. This damage can lead to permanent vision loss and, in advanced cases, blindness. Glaucoma is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), the pressure inside the eye. However, glaucoma can also occur when eye pressure is within the normal range.The most important thing to understand is that glaucoma can damage vision without causing noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Regular comprehensive eye examinations are essential for early detection.
What Are The Different Types of Glaucoma?
There are two main types of glaucoma, which differ in how the eye’s drainage system is affected
- Open-angle glaucoma:
This is the most common type of glaucoma. The drainage angle remains open, but fluid does not drain efficiently enough or the optic nerve is vulnerable to damage.
Usually develops slowly over years.
Typically causes no pain or early noticeable symptoms.
Often affects peripheral (side) vision first.
Can occur with elevated or normal eye pressure.
- Narrow-angle glaucoma:
Narrow-angle glaucoma occurs when the iris blocks or closes the drainage angle, preventing aqueous humor from draining properly.
There are two important forms:
Acute angle closure: Eye pressure can rise rapidly and cause severe symptoms.
Chronic angle closure: The drainage angle closes gradually or intermittently, sometimes without obvious symptoms.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
In early glaucoma, there are often no symptoms at all.
As the disease progresses, patients may experience:
Gradual loss of peripheral vision.
Blind spots in the visual field.
Difficulty noticing people or objects approaching from the side.
Tunnel vision in advanced disease.
Severe eye pain and sudden blurred vision in an acute angle-closure attack.
Glaucoma does not usually cause the early distance blur associated with myopia. A person can read an eye chart well and still have glaucoma-related peripheral vision loss.
Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but risk increases with certain factors:
Age: Risk generally increases as people get older.
Family history: Having a close relative with glaucoma increases risk.
Race and ancestry: Black or African American people have increased risk of certain types at younger ages; some other ancestry groups have higher risk of particular forms.
Certain medical conditions: Including diabetes, depending on the type of glaucoma.
Eye anatomy: A narrow drainage angle increases the risk of angle closure.
People with elevated risk may need more frequent eye examinations than the general population.
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