Southeast Eye Clinic: Specializing in Medical and Surgical Eye Care for Children and Adults

Glaucoma is a group of eye disease that gradually steals sight without warning and it often attacks without symptoms. Vision loss due to glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve is responsible for carrying the images we see to the brain. It was once thought that high intraocular pressure (IOP) was the main cause of this optic nerve damage and although IOP is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors are involved because even people with normal IOP can experience glaucoma.

The front of the eye is made up of two chambers, both filled with a fluid called aqueous humor. The outermost chamber lies between the cornea and the iris. The innermost chamber surrounds the lens of the eye. The aqueous humor is constantly produced and drains out of the eye into the bloodstream. Ordinarily, the aqueous humor helps maintain normal pressure within the eye, but for people with glaucoma, the fluid may drain too slowly. The result is a buildup of fluid and pressure inside the eye. When the pressure is too high, the nerve fibers and blood vessels in the optic nerve, which carries messages from the eye to the brain, can be damaged or destroyed.

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

This is the most common form of glaucoma. It happens when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time. The inner eye pressure (IOP) rises because the correct amount of fluid can not drain out of the eye. With this type of glaucoma the entrance to the drainage canal is clear. The clogging problem is inside the drainage canal.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

This type is rare and very different from open angle glaucoma. The IOP of the eye usually rises very fast with this type of glaucoma. This happens when the drainage canals get blocked or covered. With angle closure glaucoma the iris and the cornea are not as wide as they should be. The outer edge of the iris bunches up over the drainage canals when the pupil enlarges too much or too quickly. Treatment usually involves surgery to remove a small portion of the outer edge of the iris to unblock the drainage canal.

Secondary Glaucoma

Glaucoma brought on by an eye injury or other disease.

The best defense against glaucoma is regular eye examinations by your ophthalmologist or optometrist. Early detection can mean the difference between normal and lost vision.