What is glaucoma?

Reference: http://eyedoc.org.hk, http://www.eye123.com.hk/

Glaucoma is a disease that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises and damages the optic nerve fibres.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in Hong Kong (23%).

What are the types of glaucoma?

1. open-angle glaucoma (chronic)
2. angle-closure glaucoma (acute or chronic)
3. glaucoma secondary to injury, inflammation etc.
4. congenital glaucoma

Chronic Open-angle glaucoma is a common form of glaucoma. Reduced drainage of fluid through a spongy meshwork at the chamber angle is to blame for the slow rise in eyeball pressure that damages the optic nerve. It develops slowly, without obvious symptoms.

Angle closure glaucoma is caused by the reduced drainage through the narrow drainage angle between the cornea and iris, causing a rise in eyeball pressure. This can be acute or chronic.

The acute form is marked by sudden, severe pain in the eye and sharply dropped vision, headache, red eyes and nausea. It occurs when there is a sudden sharp rise in eyeball pressure within a short time. The chronic form is caused by the acute form or secondary to other causes.

The following information points mainly to chronic glaucoma.

What are the types of glaucoma?

Anyone can develop glaucoma. Some people are at higher risk than others. They include:

• Everyone over age 60
• People with a family history of glaucoma.
• People with diabetes
• People with high myopia, uveitis, and those using steroid eyedrops

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your ophthalmologist.