Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTypesDiagnosisTreatmentNext in Glaucoma GuideHow Glaucoma Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Types
Diagnosis
Treatment
Next in Glaucoma Guide
Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve. Containing more than a million nerve fibers, the optic nerve connects the eye to the brain. This important nerve is responsible for carrying images to the brain.
The optic nerve fibers make up a part of the retina that gives us sight. This nerve fiber layer can be damaged when the pressure of the eye (intraocular pressure) becomes too high. Over time, high pressure causes the nerve fibers to die, resulting in decreased vision. Vision loss and blindness will likely result if glaucoma is left untreated.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of glaucoma.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Glaucoma Symptoms
Glaucoma has been nicknamed the “sneak thief of sight” because it often goes undetected and causes irreversible damage to the eye. There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Many people have glaucoma but are not aware of it, making it a very scary, silent eye disease.
As the disease progresses, vision seems to fluctuate and peripheral vision fails. If left untreated, vision can be reduced totunnel visionand eventually, total blindness.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma usually occurs when fluid in the eye builds up, causing higher pressure than the eye can withstand. The canal responsible for draining this fluid becomes plugged, preventing proper drainage.
In other cases, the eye may produce more fluid than normal and simply cannot be drained fast enough, producinghigher intraocular pressure. Researchers do not know exactly what makes some people more prone to this problem.
Other causes may include trauma, genetic disorders, and low blood flow to the optic nerve.
Risk Factors
Having high intraocular pressure increases the risk of developing glaucoma. Black people 40 years of age and older have the highest risk. Anyone over 60 years of age is at increased risk, especially Latinx people. Women are at higher risk than men.
Furthermore, those with a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk of developing glaucoma. Having systemic diseases such as diabetes,high blood pressureand heart problems also increase your risk.Other risk factorsincludenearsightednessand direct trauma to the eye.
Types of Glaucoma
There are two major types of glaucoma: chronic glaucoma, also known as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)—and acute closed-angle glaucoma.
How Glaucoma Is Diagnosed
Youreye doctormay usetonometryor gonioscopy to test for glaucoma.
An inspection of the health of the optic nerve is also important in assessing any damage that may have occurred because of glaucoma. If damage is suspected, the doctor may measure your overall visual field with a computerized perimeter or analyze your nerve fiber layer with scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.
Glaucoma Treatment
The goal of glaucoma treatment is to reduce eye pressure to a level at which no more damage occurs.
Summary
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. It can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated.
Glaucoma usually doesn’t cause symptoms in its early phases. Once symptoms appear, you may experience loss of peripheral vision and tunnel vision.
Glaucoma is diagnosed with tonometry to measure intraocular pressure and gonioscopy to look at the eye’s drainage angle.
Treatment can include prescription eye drops, oral systemic drugs, and in some cases, surgery. Glaucoma can’t be cured, but treatment can help control the condition and prevent vision loss.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is glaucoma? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.
National Eye Institute.Glaucoma data and statistics.
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