Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause gradual loss of sight with no symptoms in the early stages. It's estimated that half the people with glaucoma don't even know they have it.
Damage to the optic nerve causes vision loss. At first it was believed that intraocular pressure or IOP was the main cause of vision loss. However, it's now known that there has to be other factors involved because people with normal IOP can suffer vision loss from glaucoma.
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common form of the disease and affects close to 3 million Americans, and is caused by blocked drainage tubes in the eye. Pressure in the eye rises because the excess fluid can't drain out of the eye. With open angle glaucoma the drainage canals appear to be open, but are blocked lower down the canal. No symptoms or early warning signs, just a gradual loss of sight may occur if undiagnosed and untreated. Medication is available and the condition responds well especially when diagnosed and treated early.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
Also known as acute or narrow angle glaucoma, is much rarer and the pressure rises rapidly. The iris isn't as wide and open as it should be and bunches up over the drainage canals when the pupil expands rapidly when going directly from a brightly lighted room to a dark room. The treatment is usually surgery to remove a small part of the outer edge of the iris. Usually this treatment is long lasting.
Symptoms may include headaches, eye pain, nausea, rainbows around lights at night, and very blurred vision.
Secondary Glaucoma
This can be caused by an injury to the eye, a tumor, inflamation, some drugs such as steroids, or as a complication of diabetes or cataracts. Can be mild or severe, and treatment depends on whether it is open or closed angle.
Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma is a form of open angle glaucoma caused by a flaky dandruff like substance peels off the outer edge of the lens within the eye and clogs the drainage canals. Treatment is either medication or surgery. This is common in those of Scandinavian descent.
Pigmentary Glaucoma is a form of secondary open angle glaucoma and occurs when the pigment granules in the back of the iris (the colored part of the eye) break into the clear fluid inside the eye. These tiny pigment granules slowly clog the drainage canals. Treatment usually includes medications or surgery.
Traumatic Glaucoma is an open angle glaucoma caused by an injury to the eye. This can devlop immediately after the injury or years later and be caused by either a bruise or penetration of the eye.
Neovascular Glaucoma is the abnormal formation of new blood vessels on the iris and over the eye’s drainage channels that can cause an open angle glaucoma. This never occurs on it's own and is usually caused by diabetes, and is very difficult to treat.
Irido Corneal Endothelial Syndrome (ICE) is rare and usually affects only one eye. Cells on the back surface of the cornea spread over the eye’s drainage canals and clog them. These cells also form adhesions that bind the iris to the cornea. Light skinned females are most at risk for this type of glaucoma. Treatment includes medication and surgery.
Normal Tension Glaucoma (NTG)
The optic nerve is damaged even though the pressure in the eye is normal. Doctors don't know why this happens. According to The Glaucoma Research Foundation, those most at risk are people with a family history of normal tension glaucoma, people of Japanese ancestry, and people with a history of systemic heart disease, such as irregular heart rhythm. Treatment includes medication, laser surgery, and filtering surgery.
Pediatric Glaucoma
Includes congenital glaucoma as well as all glaucoma present in the pediatric age set. It's very important to catch glaucoma quickly in this group to prevent blindness.
My mother has glaucoma that's treated with medication. She is doing well and hasn't slowed down a bit.
Dale L. Edwards
