Glaucoma
What is it?
Glaucoma is a disease where the eye’s optic nerve is damaged by the internal pressure of the eye. If the condition continues, it will cause permanent loss of vision if left untreated.
Major Types of Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma
In this type of glaucoma, an increase in eye pressure occurs slowly over time due to reduce efficiency of the eye’s drainage system. Open-angle glaucoma can run in families.
Angle-closure glaucoma
The acute form of this type of glaucoma is an emergency condition which would cause a quick, severe, and painful rise in the pressure of the eye. This happens when there is partial or complete blockage of the eye’s drainage. When completely blocked, eye pressure rises quickly resulting in a closed-angle glaucoma attack.
In the chronic version, the angles close over time thereby leading to a rise in eye pressure with subsequent damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision.
Congenital glaucoma
A less common type of glaucoma that develops in infants and young children that can be inherited.
Secondary glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma refers to cases where another eye condition or disease contributes to increased eye pressure. It may be caused by:
- Eye injury
- Inflammation
- Advanced cases of cataract or diabetes
- Drugs, such as long term use of steroids
