Glaucoma

GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye's optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. We can help you decide the best treatment options and provide you with regular treatment options to help you preserve your vision and manage glaucoma.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

How glaucoma is treated will depend on a variety of factors including: the specific type of glaucoma, the severity of the disease, and how well it responds to treatment. Glaucoma damage is permanent—it cannot be reversed. But medical eye drops, laser treatments, and/or surgery help to stop further damage. 

FORMS OF GLAUCOMA

There are several forms of glaucoma. The two most common forms are Primary Open-angle Glaucoma and Angle-Closure Glaucoma. Together we can discuss your diagnosis and answer any questions you may have.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or POAG is when the angle in your eye where the iris meets the cornea is as wide and open as it should be, but the eye's drainage canals become clogged over time, causing an increase in internal eye pressure and subsequent damage to the optic nerve.

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma is caused by a rapid or sudden increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), the pressure within the eye. Fluid is continually produced inside, and drains out. This fluid, called aqueous humor, is unrelated to the tears, which are only on the outside of the eye. A laser treatment called laser iridotomy may help prevent angle closure if you have been diagnosed with narrow angles.

Normal Tension Glaucoma or NTG is also called low-tension or normal-pressure glaucoma. In normal-tension glaucoma the optic nerve is damaged even though the eye pressure is not very high. We still don't know why some people’s optic nerves are damaged even though they have almost normal pressure levels.

Congenital Glaucoma occurs in babies when there is incorrect or incomplete development of the eye's drainage canals during the prenatal period. This is a rare condition that may be inherited. When uncomplicated, microsurgery can often correct the structural defects. Other cases are treated with medication and surgery.

Other less common forms of glaucoma include: Secondary Glaucoma, Pigmentary Glaucoma, Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma, Traumatic Glaucoma, Neovasuclar Glaucoma, Irido Corneal Endothelial Syndrome, and Uveitic Glaucoma.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of glaucoma can vary as there are different kinds of glaucoma. Symptoms of the two most common types are listed below.

OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA

• no early warning signs or symptoms.

• it develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years.

ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA

• Hazy or blurred vision 

• The appearance of rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights 

• Severe eye and head pain 

• Nausea or vomiting (accompanying severe eye pain) 

• Sudden sight loss

It is recommend you see an eye health specialist if you experiencing any of these symptoms.  These symptoms may be signs of other vision problems. 

RISK FACTORS

Some people have a higher than normal risk of getting glaucoma. This includes people who:

• are over age 40

• have family members with glaucoma

• are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage

• have high eye pressure

• are farsighted or nearsighted

• have had an eye injury

• use long-term steroid medications

• have corneas that are thin in the center

• have thinning of the optic nerve

• have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body

Talk with us about your glaucoma risk factors.