Glaucoma

After reading the information below, click here to learn more about POB’s programs for people with glaucoma.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. The hallmark is a progressive loss of nerve tissue over time. In most forms of glaucoma, the damage occurs very slowly, and many patients do not notice a loss of vision until very late in the disease, when most of the nerve has been lost. Because of this, glaucoma has been called the “sneaky thief of sight.” Glaucoma can be treated by lowering the pressure in the eyes, but damage cannot be reversed. This makes early diagnosis and regular follow-up visits to the eye care specialist critical to maintaining vision in patients at risk for glaucoma.

The best way to prevent permanent vision loss from glaucoma is with regular, comprehensive dilated eye exams — the only way to catch the disease before permanent damage occurs.

What is the optic nerve?

The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. The optic nerve connects the retina to the brain. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.

What are the types of glaucoma, their symptoms and their treatments?

Open-angle glaucoma: The most common type of glaucoma. Fluid in the eye does not drain properly, causing elevated eye pressure for the specific eye, pushing on the optic nerve, causing damage. The only way to catch the disease before vision loss occurs is through regular, comprehensive dilated eye exams.

• Symptoms: Referred to as the “sneaky thief of sight,” open-angle glaucoma often has no symptoms early on. Only later stages will begin exhibiting peripheral vision loss, which is permanent.
• Treatments:
  • Medications. Prescription eye drop medications work to lower eye pressure. In most cases, they have been shown to be effective in preventing or slowing vision loss due to open-angle glaucoma.
  • Surgeries. There are some surgeries and laser treatments available to help lower eye pressure. Talk to your ophthalmologist about your options.
• Risk Factors:
  • African American or Hispanic/Latino ancestry and being over age 40
  • Being over age 60
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • Chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or lupus

Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma. A type of open-angle glaucoma occurring in individuals with normal or low eye pressure. The treatment options for low-tension glaucoma usually are the same as for open-angle glaucoma.

• Risk Factors
  • Family history of normal-tension glaucoma
  • Low blood pressure
  • Certain heart problems, such as irregular heartbeat
  • Japanese ancestry

Angle-closure glaucoma. The fluid at the front of the eye gets blocked by part of the iris and cannot reach the angle and leave the eye. This is a medical emergency, and you should seek medical care immediately if exhibiting symptoms. People with this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure, and without treatment to improve the flow of fluid, the eye can become blind in as few as one or two days. Usually, prompt laser surgery and medicines can clear the blockage and protect sight.

• Symptoms:
  • Severe pain in the eye and nausea
  • Redness of the eye
  • Blurred vision
• Treatments:
  • Surgery. Often, laser treatments and surgeries are needed to help fluid drain. This will lower eye pressure.
  • Medicines. Some medicines are also available to treat this form of glaucoma. Talk with your ophthalmologist to hear your options.
• Risk Factors:
  • Asian ancestry
  • Family history of angle-closure glaucoma
  • Increased age
  • Being female

Congenital glaucoma. Children are born with a defect in the angle of the eye, which slows the normal drainage of fluid. A rare birth defect, congenital glaucoma, usually shows obvious symptoms.

• Symptoms:
  • Cloudy eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Excessively large eyes
  • Excessive tearing
• Treatments:
  • Surgery. As the standard suggested treatment, surgery is a safe and effective option. If performed early enough, children have a high chance of having good vision. Medicines usually are not recommended because they may have unknown effects in infants and are difficult to administer.
• Risk Factors:
  • Low birth weight
  • A mother who is African American
  • A mother with history of seizures or using antihypertensive medications

Secondary glaucoma. Sometimes, glaucoma may develop as a complication of other medical conditions. Treatments for these include medicines, laser surgery, or conventional surgery. It is best to speak with your ophthalmologist about treatment options.

• Glaucoma can develop secondary to eye surgery or advanced cataracts, eye injuries, certain eye tumors, or uveitis (eye inflammation).
• Pigmentary glaucoma occurs when pigment from the iris flakes off and blocks the meshwork, slowing fluid drainage.
• A severe form, called neovascular glaucoma, is linked to diabetes.
• Corticosteroid drugs used to treat eye inflammations and other diseases can trigger glaucoma in some people.