What is Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that is caused by high pressure inside the eye. The pressure in the eye is raised because fluid (aqueous humor) within the eye cannot get out through the normal drainage system.
The increased pressure can cause damage to the nerves of the eye, and that can result in loss of vision. It is important to diagnose glaucoma early before damage occurs. Early treatment can often prevent vision loss.
There are two main types of glaucoma:
- Open-angle glaucoma. This is a long-term (chronic) condition that causes the pressure inside the eye to rise slowly. This is the most common type of glaucoma. In many cases, it does not cause symptoms until later in the disease.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma. With this type, the pressure inside the eye rises suddenly to a very high level. This causes severe pain and requires treatment right away.
What are the causes?
In many cases, the cause of this condition is not known. Glaucoma can sometimes result from other diseases, such as infection, cataracts, or tumors.
What increases the risk?
The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition:
- Being older than age 40.
- Being of African-American descent.
- Having high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Having a family history of glaucoma.
- Having a previous eye injury or eye surgery.
- Being farsighted.
- Using certain medicines that increase pressure in the eyes or cause the pupils to widen (dilate).
What are the signs or symptoms?
Open-angle glaucoma often causes no symptoms early on. If it is not treated, the condition will get worse and may cause a loss of side vision (peripheral vision). This can advance to tunnel vision, which means that you are able to see straight ahead but you have a loss of peripheral vision in all directions. Eventually, total loss of vision can occur.
Symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma develop suddenly and may include:
- Cloudy vision.
- Severe pain in your affected eye.
- Severe headache in the area around your eye.
- Feeling nauseous.
- Vomiting.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition is diagnosed through an eye exam by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). This specialist will:
- Perform a test to measure the pressure in your eye (tonometry).
- Do eye tests to check your vision, especially your peripheral vision.
- Use various instruments to look inside your eye and check for damage to the nerves.
Because glaucoma often does not cause symptoms until late in the disease, it is often found during a routine eye exam. Be sure to have your eyes checked regularly.
How is this treated?
Early treatment is important to prevent vision loss. Treatment will focus on lowering the pressure in your eyes. This usually involves using medicines in the form of eye drops. The type of medicine will depend on how bad the disease is and the degree of damage. Laser treatments or other types of surgery may be needed in some cases.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma requires emergency treatment to help prevent vision loss. This treatment may involve eye drops and medicines that are given in pill form or through an IV. Surgery is often done after the pressure has been lowered with medicine.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Take
over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health
care provider.
- If you were given eye drops, use them exactly as instructed. It is likely that you will need to use this medicine for the rest of your life.
- Get regular exercise, but talk with your health care provider about which types of exercise are safe for you. You may need to avoid yoga or other types of exercise that may involve standing on your head.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have new or worsening symptoms.
- Your symptoms get worse.
Get help right away if:
- You have severe pain in your affected eye.
- You have problems with your vision.
- You have a bad headache in the area around your eye.
- You develop nausea and vomiting.
- The same or similar symptoms develop in your other eye.
Summary
- Glaucoma is a condition that is caused by high pressure inside the eye. The increased pressure can cause damage to the nerves of the eye, and that can result in loss of vision.
- It is important to diagnose glaucoma early before damage occurs. Early treatment can often prevent vision loss.
- Open-angle glaucoma often causes no symptoms early on. If it is not treated, the condition will get worse and may cause a loss of vision.
- Because glaucoma often does not cause symptoms until late in the disease, it is often found during a routine eye exam. Be sure to have your eyes checked regularly.
