Glaucoma Details

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in your eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. It can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage. Because vision loss due to glaucoma can't be recovered, it's important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented.

• Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) or central vision, frequently in both eyes
• Tunnel vision in the advanced stages
• Severe headache
• Eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Halos around lights
• Eye redness

• Elevated intraocular pressure due to fluid buildup in the eye
• Impaired drainage of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork
• Family history of glaucoma
• Age — people over 60 are at increased risk
• Medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and sickle cell anemia
• Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness
• Eye injuries or certain types of eye surgery
• Long-term use of corticosteroid medications, especially eye drops
• Ethnicity — African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics are at higher risk

• Prescription eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure
• Oral medications such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
• Laser trabeculoplasty to improve drainage
• Laser iridotomy for angle-closure glaucoma
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
• Trabeculectomy to create a new drainage pathway
• Drainage tubes (shunts) to drain excess fluid
• Cyclodestructive procedures to reduce fluid production