What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. Eye doctors sometimes call it the sneak thief of vision. 

What is it?

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, this nerve is responsible for sending visual messages from your eye to your brain. Glaucoma usually happens when the fluid in your eye does not drain as it should. Fluid gradually builds up and increases pressure in your eye that pressure is what damages the optic nerve.  

Fig 1.2: Normal anatomy and Glaucoma
Photo Credit: MAYO foundation for medical
education and research

Fig 1.1: Glaucoma

What is the cause of glaucoma?

In the healthy eye, fluid called aqueous humor is made in the front of the eye and flows out through a tiny drain called the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is located in an area called the drainage angle. If the fluid doesn't flow out of the drainage angle properly, eye pressure increases and damages the optic nerve.

There are several types of glaucoma but the most common form is called primary open-angle glaucoma, this type occurs when the trabecular meshwork of the eye gradually becomes less effective at draining fluid. As this happens your eye pressure rises leading to damage of the optic nerve. As the more optic nerve damage occurs blank spots begin to appear. 

In your field of vision, you probably won't notice these blank spots in day-to-day life until the optic nerve is significantly damaged and the spots become large if the optic nerve is severely damaged that eye will go blind.    

Fig 1.3: How to use eye drops
Photo Credit: Glaucoma
Associates of Texas

Fig 1.4: Phases of Glaucoma
Photo Credit: EyeCare Associates of Lee's Summit

Can glaucoma be cured?

Blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment. Treating glaucoma won't bring back any vision you have lost, but it can help save the sight you still have. 

Eye pressure rises and falls from day to day and hour to hour. Therefore a single eye pressure test may not detect LA coma in some people who actually have the disease. 

This is why it is very important to see your ophthalmologist regularly. He or she will monitor your eye pressure. Examine your optic nerve and check for any vision loss that may have occurred.   

There is no single normal eye pressure number that applies to everyone. Optic nerve damage can happen at different eye pressures in different people. If your ophthalmologist determines that you have glaucoma or feels you are at the risk for developing the disease. He or she will establish a target eye pressure specifically for you. That target pressure is to protect your optic nerve from damage. 

What is the treatment for glaucoma?

There are several ways to treat glaucoma on the type you have and how far it has progressed. The most common way is with eye drop medication. These medications lower your eye pressure in one of two ways. They either reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye or they help this fluid flow out of the eye through the drainage angle. 

✔ Glaucoma eye drops must be taken every day as prescribed by your ophthalmologist. 

✔ Surgery may be recommended for some people with glaucoma. 

✔ Glaucoma surgery improves the flow of fluid out of the eye helping to lower eye pressure.

Treating your glaucoma is important for preserving your vision and your quality of life. If you have any questions or concerns about your eyes or your visions in general don't hesitate to bring them up. Your ophthalmologist is committed to protecting your site.                     

 

Fig 1.5: Glaucoma Surgery
Photo Credit: Opthalmology Times

Fig 1.6: Treating Young Glaucoma Patients
Photo Credit: Fraser Valley Cataract & Laser