Glaucoma treatment

Glaucoma treatment
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause optic nerve damage. The optic nerve transports images of the retina, the specialized light-sensor tissue, to the brain so that we can see. In glaucoma, ocular pressure plays a role in damaging the delicate nerve fibers of the optic nerve. When a significant number of nerve fibers are damaged, blind spots form in the field of view.
Once nerve damage and vision loss occur, this is permanent. Most people do not notice these blind areas until much of the optic nerve damage has occurred. When the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness occurs. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, especially in the elderly. Early detection and treatment by your ophthalmologist are the key to preventing damage to the optic nerve and vision loss due to glaucoma.

What causes glaucoma?
The exact causes of glaucoma damage to the optic nerve are not fully understood, but include mechanical compression and / or decreased optic nerve blood flow. Although high intraocular pressure sometimes leads to glaucoma, many people may also develop glaucoma with "normal" eye pressure.

What are the different types of glaucoma?
Open-angle glaucoma
Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. The "open" drainage angle of the eye can become clogged, gradually increasing eye pressure. When this increased pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, it is called chronic open-angle glaucoma. The optic nerve damage and loss of vision are usually so gradual and painless that you do not experience any problems until the optic nerve is already severely damaged.
angle-closure glaucoma
Angular glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle of the eye narrows and becomes completely blocked. In the eye, the iris can close the drainage angle and cause dangerously high eye pressure. When the drainage angle of the eye suddenly becomes completely blocked, pressure quickly builds up and this is called acute angle-closure glaucoma. Symptoms include severe eye pain, blurred vision, headache, rainbow halo around lights, nausea, and vomiting. If an ophthalmologist does not treat acute narrow-angle glaucoma quickly, it can lead to blindness. When the drainage angle of the eye gradually becomes completely blocked, pressure gradually builds up, called chronic angle-closure glaucoma. This form of glaucoma is more common in people of African and Asian descent and in certain eye conditions.