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Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that can rob a person of their sight if early warning signs are not recognized. This disease can cause blindness, so it is important for everyone to be aware of the symptoms and risks.
"The American Medical Association Family Guide", published in 1982 by Random House, provides the following information on how glaucoma develops. A liquid known as aqueous humor is continually manufactured by the ciliary body within the eye. This liquid circulates in back of the iris and through the pupil. From there it enters an enclosure between the cornea and the iris. This liquid needs to drain from the eye. In an unhealthy eye, the liquid may drain too slowly or not at all. When the pressure caused by this fluid becomes too high, the gelatinous fluid behind the lens is compressed. Because of this pressure, the circulation to the nerve fibers and cells is cut off and they start to die. As this happens, vision is gradually lost.
There are several different types of glaucoma. The reference guide entitled "Understanding and Living With Glaucoma", written by Lynn A. Whitmore and published by The Glaucoma Research Foundation, provides the following information on different forms of glaucoma. It says the most common type of glaucoma is known as chronic, primary, or open-angle. Approximately 3 million people in the United States have this disease. With this type of glaucoma, the angles between the cornea and the iris remain open, but the interior of the drainage canals become plugged causing eye pressure to dangerously rise. There are no warning signs with open-angle glaucoma. Vision loss may not occur for years, and the loss is so gradual it often goes unnoticed. Open-angle glaucoma can be successfully treated with surgery and medication.
Acute glaucoma, otherwise known as angle-closure glaucoma, is uncommon. It comes on very suddenly and eye pressure often rises because of the iris blocking the drainage canals. In rare instances the angle is naturally too narrow for proper drainage. The symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma are; extremely blurry vision, colored halos around lights, nausea, extreme eye pain, and headaches. With angle-closure glaucoma, laser surgery or microsurgery is often preformed to unblock drainage canals. It is advised that a glaucoma patient has regular postoperative exams since problems can recur.
Secondary glaucoma can have varying degrees of severity. This form of glaucoma can occur because of complications from diabetes or cataracts, or due to swelling, a tumor, medications, or an injury. Secondary glaucoma can be open-angle or angle-closure, so treatment varies.
Pigmentary glaucoma occurs when the particles that make up the colored portion of the eye break free and slowly clog the drainage tubes. Filtering surgery, laser surgery, and other treatments may be used to clear the tubes and relieve the pressure.
Normal-tension glaucoma, or low-tension glaucoma, is very uncommon. This form of glaucoma is unusual, because even though eye pressure readings stay in the normal range, the optic nerve is damaged. People of Japanese descent, those with systemic cardiovascular disease, or those with a family history of this type of glaucoma are at risk for developing it.
In rare cases, congenital glaucoma is present at birth. This glaucoma may occur where there is a family history of the disease, or it can be caused by abnormal development. It can be corrected with medications or microsurgery.
According to the online patient guide entitled "Types of Glaucoma", published by The Glaucoma Foundation in 2000, exfoliation syndrome is quite common throughout the world. Approximately 10% of people over 50 have this form of glaucoma. Most people afflicted with it are of European heritage. What happens is, a light colored material collects on the eye lens. When the iris moves, this material, along with particles from the colored part of the eye, begin to clog the drainage tubes. Not everyone who has exfoliation syndrome ends up with glaucoma. However, those with this syndrome are six times more likely to develop it. Exfoliation syndrome can cause angle-closure or open-angle glaucoma. In many cases of exfoliation syndrome, glaucoma shows up in only one eye first.
Medications are often effective in controlling and treating glaucoma, but sometimes surgery is recommended. The patient guide entitled "Surgical Procedures", published by The Glaucoma Foundation in 2000, provides the following details on traditional surgery and laser surgery.
Traditional surgery often involves an operation known as a trabeculectomy. With the use of a local anesthesia, the surgeon takes away a portion of the trabecular meshwork allowing fluid to drain. This type of surgery is safe and effective, but approximately one third of people who undergo this surgery form cataracts in five years or less.
Laser surgery is commonly performed in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. An operation called a trabeculoplasty is quick, painless, and does not require a hospital stay. Cataracts do not develop after this popular type of glaucoma surgery, and usually there are no complications.
Your eye doctor is your best source of information for questions regarding these or any other surgical options.
The MSN Health article entitled "Glaucoma", published in 1999 by Adams.com, advises anyone with a history of glaucoma in their family to have regular eye exams. During the exam, eye pressure will be checked with a tonometer. There is no prevention for glaucoma, but regular exams and treatments can prevent sight damage and irrepairable blindness.
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