Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that causes high pressure on optic nerve, damaing it. The optic nerve is crucial to sight, it sends all of the images created by the eye to the brain. Damage done to to this nerve first causes the loss of peripheral vision, and then central vision.
This sight-threatening ailment develops at a different rate for every individual, meaning that one individual might experience nerve damage from a relatively low amount of pressure, while another individual might have noticeably higher pressure and yet be able to withstand it for years without developing any damage.
Primary Open-angle Glaucoma
- It occurs when the draining canal becomes clogged which results in increased pressure on the eye
- It is a lifelong condition that develops slowly
- angle between the cornea and iris is wide and open
- POAG, nicknamed “the sneak thief of sight”, typically presents no symptoms
Open-angle means the angle where the cornea and iris meet are as wide and open as they should be. POAG affects roughly three million Americans, and is also known as: primary or chronic glaucoma.
Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma
- its caused by blocked drainage canals which results in a sudden rise in the intraocular pressure
- occurs in eyes that are vunernible as the pupil dilates, blocking the flow of fluid through it
- it has a closed/narrow angle between the cornea and iris
- causes severe headaches, eye pain, nausea, seeing rainbow-like halos around bright lights, and loss of sight(slowly or rapidly)
- develops quickly and requires immident medical attention to prevent loss of sight
Closed-angle is the closing of angle where the cornea and iris meet. You may have heard Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma called acute or narrow-angle glaucoma.
Early Detection and Treatment
There are many ways to treat glucoma including:
- Medication
- Eye drops
- Pills
- Laser Surgery
- Traditional Surgery, or
- Combination of all of the above
As discussed in our previous article, early detection is vital! If you suspect that you or someone you know is affected with glaucoma it is extremely important to have it checked out by an eye doctor immediately because left untreated it can result in total loss of sight.
References:
Glaucoma Foundation, https://www.glaucomafoundation.org/treating_glaucoma.htm
https://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/types-of-glaucoma.php
