Glaucoma
Understanding glaucoma, its symptoms, risks and treatment options.
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of sight by damaging a part of the eye called the optic nerve. This nerve sends information from your eyes to your brain. When glaucoma damages your optic nerve, you begin to lose patches of vision, usually side vision (peripheral vision).
Over time, glaucoma may also damage straight ahead (central) vision. You may not notice a loss of side vision until you have lost a great deal of your sight. When checking for glaucoma, eye doctors usually look for damage to the optic nerve and any loss of side vision.
Glaucoma is often called the "silent killer" because people usually do not notice any signs of the disease until they have already lost significant vision. Once lost, vision cannot be restored.
What are the three major signs that a person may have glaucoma?
- Optic nerve damage
- Vision loss (visual field loss)
- Increased eye pressure (elevated intraocular pressure)
Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?
- Age: The older you are, the greater your risk
- Family history: If you have a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma, you are more likely to get glaucoma too. If you have glaucoma, your family members should get complete eye exams.
- Medical history: Diabetes, previous eye injuries, eye surgery or long-term steroid use can increase your risk of glaucoma. Anyone can get glaucoma.
There are many types of glaucoma. The most common types include:
- Chronic (Open Angle) Glaucoma: This is the most common type. In open angle glaucoma, aqueous fluid drains too slowly and pressure inside the eye builds up.
- Normal Tension Glaucoma: This is a form of open angle glaucoma not related to high pressure.
- Acute (Angle Closure) Glaucoma: Less than 10 percent have this form, but it causes a sudden rise in pressure requiring immediate emergency medical care.
- Secondary Glaucoma: Another 10 percent of glaucoma cases come from certain diseases and conditions that damage the eye's drainage system.
- Post-Surgical Glaucoma: Which happen due to some surgeries, such as retinal reattachments.