Glaucoma:A commoneyeconditioninwhich the fluid pressure inside the eye rises to a level higher thanhealthyfor that eye. If untreated, it may damage theoptic nerve, causing the loss of vision or even blindness.
The elderly, African-Americans, and people withfamilyhistories of thediseaseare at greatest risk. There are no symptoms in the earlystageofglaucoma. Glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight." Often, by the time thepatientnotices vision loss, glaucoma can only be halted, not reversed.
There are several different types of glaucoma, includingopen-angle glaucomaandacute angle-closure glaucoma.Open-angle glaucomais the common adult-onsettype of glaucoma.Acuteangle-closure glaucomais a less common form of glaucoma that can rapidly impair vision.
The treatment of glaucoma may includemedication,surgery, orlaser surgery. Eyedrops or pills alone can usuallycontrolglaucoma, although they cannotcureit. Some drugs are designed to reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye, while others help to improve fluid drainage. Surgery to help fluid escape from the eye, andlasersurgery is now often used for the same purpose. In laser surgery for glaucoma, a laser beam of light is focused on the part of theanterior chamberwhere the fluid leaves the eye. This results in a series of small changes, making it easier for fluid to exit. Over time, the effect of laser surgery may wear off.
See also:Acute angle-closure glaucoma,Glaucoma detection,Normal tension glaucoma, Open-angle glaucoma.
