Glaucoma is an eye condition – or more accurately a group of eye conditions – that stems from and damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for carrying visual signals to the brain. This damage can be caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) or outside factors, such as trauma or disease. So, as you can probably imagine, there are many forms of glaucoma: as many as 70-80 different types. Some of the most common forms include:
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, or POAG, is the most common type of glaucoma, affecting about three million Americans. With POAG, a blockage develops within the eye’s drainage canals. This traps fluid and causes an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), or inner eye pressure.
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Normal Tension Glaucoma
While most forms of glaucoma are characterized by a rise in intraocular eye pressure (IOP), normal tension glaucoma is not. This form of glaucoma, also known as low-tension or normal-pressure glaucoma, involves damage to the optic nerve without eye pressure exceeding 24 mm Hg. The normal range is 10-21 mm Hg.
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Traumatic Glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma is a term used to describe any form of glaucoma where there is a distinguishable cause of increased eye pressure (IOP). Traumatic Glaucoma, as you can probably figure out, is caused by an injury to the eye: penetrating injury, chemical burn, blunt trauma, etc. The resulting open-angle glaucoma can develop immediately following the injury or develop years later.
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Exfoliative Glaucoma
Exfoliative glaucoma is a form of open-angle, Secondary Glaucoma caused by the abnormal accumulation of protein in the drainage system of the eye. Patients with this form of glaucoma tend to have higher pressures and faster disease progression than patients with classic primary open-angle glaucoma.
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Pigmentary Glaucoma
Pigmentary Glaucoma is a form of secondary glaucoma. The distinguishable cause is pigment dispersion syndrome. The pigment granules of the eye, which normally adhere to the back of the iris, break apart into the aqueous humor, the clear fluid produced in the eye. Over time, the pigment granules flow to the drainage canals, slowly clogging them and causing eye pressure to increase, which can result in damage to the optic nerve. When this happens, pigment dispersion syndrome becomes Pigmentary Glaucoma.
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Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Also known as acute glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma is much rarer than primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), the subject of last week’s blog post. Unlike POAG where the intraocular eye pressure (IOP) increases gradually, angle closure glaucoma is characterized by a sudden increase in IOP, often in only a matter of hours. This dramatic increase in IOP can cause severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision and headache.
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And More!
When caught early, glaucoma treatment successfully preserves vision 95% of the time or more. So the only question is… when was your last eye exam?
Glaucoma Treatment in Annapolis
The Anne Arundel Eye Center is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Led by board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, AAEC offers complete ophthalmic exams, as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Over the years, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.
If you have any questions about Glaucoma Treatment or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC), please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or Click Here to fill out our contact form.
You can also follow AAEC on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.