| Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It typically affects older people, but can occur at any age. Loss of vision is preventable if the disease is detected early and treatment is started.
The eye has about one million tiny nerve fibers which run from the back of the eye to the brain. These nerve fibers allow us to see. Glaucoma is a disease that causes the destruction of these fibers. It was once thought that the loss of these fibers was due strictly to high pressure in the eye. But now it is known that even patients with normal eye pressure can have glaucoma and loss of these nerve fibers.
In many patients, the disease is not noticed in the early stages, because there is no pain and no noticeable change in vision. Early detection by an eye doctor is the key to the prevention of vision damage from glaucoma. Routine eye examinations are recommended.
Types of Glaucoma
The reason that eye pressure is high in many glaucoma patients is that the drainage system in the eye is not working properly. The fluid in the eye, called aqueous humor, does not flow out of the eye as quickly as it should. The drainage system lies in a part of the eye called the angle, which is between the outer layer and the iris of the eye. This angle can be open or closed.
Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma
The most common form of glaucoma is called chronic open angle glaucoma. The drainage angle is open in these patients, but the eye fluid does not drain as quickly as it should. This type of glaucoma may cause slow deterioration in the peripheral vision that may not be noticed by the patient until the loss is great and the central part of the vision becomes involved. Fortunately it is easily detected as part of a routine eye exam. Treatment includes medication, and laser surgery.
Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma
This condition occurs when the drainage angle closes, and almost no eye fluid can escape. During closed-angle glaucoma, eye pressure can get very high and painful. Angle closure glaucoma is an emergency and must be treated immediately. The usual treatment is initially medical followed by laser. If the high pressure is allowed to continue for too long, blindness can result.
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