Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that damages a person’s optic nerve. Optic nerve health is essential for good vision. The damage is generally caused due to abnormally high pressure in the eye.

The health condition is one of the most leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. Glaucoma can occur at any age, but it is more common in adults.

Though many forms of the health condition show no warning signs, the effect is so gradual that a person suffering from it may notice a vision change until the condition gets to its advanced stage.

As vision loss occurs because Glaucoma cannot be recovered, it is essential to have a routine eye examination that includes the eye pressure measurement so that the diagnosis can be done at a very initial stage and can be treated appropriately.

The best thing to be noted here is that if the health condition is diagnosed early, the vision loss can be prevented or slowed down.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Causes of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a result of optic nerve damage. As the nerve gradually deteriorates, the blind spots begin to develop in the visual field.

This optic nerve is generally associated with increased eye pressure, and the elevated eye pressure is due to the fluid buildup that usually flows throughout the inside of the eye.

This internal fluid generally drains out through the tissue known as the trabecular meshwork at an angle where the cornea and iris meet. And when this fluid is overproduced, the fluid cannot flow at its usual pace, leading to increased eye pressure.

The health condition tends to run in the family, so family history can also be the reason.

• Open-angle Glaucoma It is the most common form of the disease where the iris and cornea generate the drainage angle, remain open. But at the same time, the meshwork is partially blocked. This leads to the pressure in the eye increasing gradually, which consequently damages the optic nerve.
• Angle-closure Glaucoma This form of Glaucoma occurs when the iris blocks the drainage angle formed or bulges forward to narrow. Consequently, the fluid cannot circulate through the eye leading to an increase in eye pressure. This may occur all of a sudden or gradually.
• Normal-tension Glaucoma The optic nerve becomes damaged during this form even though the eye pressure is in its normal range. However, the exact reason for this is still unknown, but this may lead to a sensitive optic nerve.
• Glaucoma in children It is also possible for the children or infants to have the health condition. This may be present by birth or can also develop in a few years. The optic nerve is damaged due to an underlying health condition or drainage blockage in such a case.
• Pigmentary Glaucoma In this form, the pigment granules from the iris develop in the drainage channel while blocking or slowing down the fluid exiting from the eyes.

Diagnosis of Glaucoma

• Measuring intraocular pressure
• Checking for vision loss areas
• Testing for optic damage with imaging test and dilated eye examination
• Inspecting drainage angle
• Measuring corneal thickness