What Is Glaucoma? – Part 1 of 8

What Is Glaucoma? – Part 1 of 8

Glaucoma is a group of conditions that affect the eyes. The conditions are all characterized by a cupping of the optic disc or a thinning of the nerve fiber layer. The result is a visual field defect and loss of peripheral vision that can be measured by surgeons at Texas Eye and Cataract. Glaucoma is a progressive condition that is behind most cases of irreversible blindness in the world.

What are the Types of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is classified into two types, Primary Glaucoma and Secondary Glaucoma. Glaucoma is classified as being Primary when there’s no known underlying disease or medical condition causing it. Primary glaucoma is the most common type in the US. In some cases, glaucoma is also caused because of another medical condition which is called secondary glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma accounts for at least 90% of glaucoma cases in the United States. Experts do not know the exact cause of open-angle glaucoma but it may be caused by pressure build-up in the eye because of slow clogging of the drainage canal. The angle between the iris and corneas is wide open in this type hence the term ‘Open-angle’. Over time, the increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve and eventually leads to loss of vision. The symptoms and damage caused by this type of glaucoma are not noticed until patients start losing a substantial portion of their vision. People with high blood pressure are at higher risk of developing this type of Glaucoma.

Angle-closure glaucoma is acute glaucoma that calls for immediate action. The symptoms for Angle-closure glaucoma include intense pain in the eye, red eyes, blurred vision, and nausea. It is important to immediately go to the emergency room if you experience any of these symptoms. Pressure in the eye is rapidly increased due to the blocking of fluids from draining out. If not treated, it can cause irreversible blindness in just a few days.

There are several other types of glaucoma that may occur due to some underlying medical condition. The medical conditions include inflammation, use of steroids, advanced cases of cataract, injury to the eye, and diabetes. Such medical conditions may lead to several types of glaucoma including Exfoliative Glaucoma, Neovascular Glaucoma, Pigmentary Glaucoma, Uveitic Glaucoma, and Traumatic Glaucoma.

Each type of glaucoma is different and most of them do not exhibit early symptoms. It is recommended to get regular checkups from an experienced ophthalmologist, especially if you fall in the higher-risk category. To consult a specialist in and around Texas, Texas Eye and Cataract can help. Our team of highly-skilled and experienced eye surgeons specializes in treating a wide array of eye conditions including glaucoma and cataract. If you would like to schedule an eye doctor consultation or get answers to any questions related to glaucoma, call 469-505-2020 or email info@teceyecare.com.