Glaucoma (patient information)

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What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye.

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. There are four major types of glaucoma:

• Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma
• Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma
• Congenital glaucoma
• Secondary glaucoma

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Open-angle glaucoma

• Most people have NO symptoms until they begin to lose vision
• Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision (also called tunnel vision)

Angle-closure glaucoma

• Symptoms may come and go at first, or steadily become worse
• Sudden, severe pain in one eye
• Decreased or cloudy vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rainbow-like halos around lights
• Red eye
• Eye feels swollen

Congenital glaucoma

• Symptoms are usually noticed when the child is a few months old
• Cloudiness of the front of the eye
• Enlargement of one eye or both eyes
• Red eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Tearing

What are the causes of glaucoma?

The four major types of glaucoma have their own unique causes. However, before reviewing them, a brief overview of the anatomy of the eye may be helpful in understanding the causes of this disease:

The front part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid called aqueous humor. This fluid is always being made in the back of the eye. It leaves the eye through channels in the front of the eye in an area called the anterior chamber angle, or simply the angle. Anything that slows or blocks the flow of this fluid out of the eye will cause pressure to build up in the eye. This pressure is called intraocular pressure (IOP). In most cases of glaucoma, this pressure is high and causes damage to the major nerve in the eye, called the optic nerve.

More specific causes by each major type of glaucoma are:

Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma

• The cause is unknown. An increase in eye pressure occurs slowly over time. The pressure pushes on the optic nerve and the retina at the back of the eye.
• Open-angle glaucoma tends to run in families. Your risk is higher if you have a parent or grandparent with open-angle glaucoma. People of African descent are at particularly high risk for this disease.

Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma

• It occurs when the exit of the aqueous humor fluid is suddenly blocked.
• Dilating eye drops and certain medications may trigger an acute glaucoma attack.

Congenital glaucoma

• It is present at birth and results from the abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels in the eye.
• It is often hereditary and runs in families.

Secondary glaucoma

• It can be caused by drugs such as corticosteroids
• Eye diseases such as uveitis and certain systemic diseases may cause it.

Who is at risk for glaucoma?

Ocular hypertension is the most important risk factor for glaucoma.

Where to find medical care for glaucoma

Directions to Hospitals Treating glaucoma

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)

Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001620.htm