Glaucoma

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Diseases
  3. Glaucoma

Schedule

Your Appointment

    What is Glaucoma?

    Understanding About
    Glaucoma

    Glaucoma, a group of eye conditions, damages the optic nerve responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. Typically associated with high eye pressure, glaucoma can also occur with normal pressure. 

    While it can affect individuals of any age, it’s more prevalent among older adults, often leading to blindness in those over 60. Many forms of glaucoma show no early warning signs, with vision changes becoming noticeable only in advanced stages.

    Regular eye exams, including eye pressure measurements, are crucial for early detection. With timely recognition, vision loss from glaucoma can be slowed or prevented, necessitating lifelong treatment or monitoring for those affected.

    Types of Glaucoma

    Different Types of
    Glaucoma

    Open-angle Glaucoma

    The most common form, characterized by the gradual increase in eye pressure due to improper drainage despite an open drainage angle.

    Angle-closure Glaucoma

    Occurs when the iris bulges, blocking the drainage angle and leading to a sudden or gradual increase in eye pressure.

    Normal-tension Glaucoma

    Eye pressure remains within the normal range, but optic nerve damage still occurs, possibly due to reduced blood flow or optic nerve sensitivity.

    Glaucoma in Children

    Can be congenital or develop in early childhood due to blocked drainage, injury, or underlying medical conditions causing optic nerve damage.

    Pigmentary Glaucoma

    Results from pigment granules flaking off from the iris and blocking fluid drainage, often exacerbated by activities like jogging.

    Glaucoma FAQs

    Glaucoma
    FAQS
    Glaucoma is caused by high levels of pressure within the eye. This intraocular pressure (IOP) presses on the optic nerve, causing damage, and eventually leading to permanent vision loss.
    Glaucoma has been nicknamed the silent thief of sight because it often causes permanent vision loss before the disease is even detected. In its early stages, glaucoma does not typically present with any symptoms that would send you to your eye doctor with complaints of vision changes. Therefore, by the time you see your eye doctor, a large amount of vision loss has already occurred.
    f glaucoma is not effectively controlled at an early stage, the disease can cause severe peripheral vision loss— resulting in a condition called ‘tunnel vision’. Tunnel vision blocks your ‘side vision’, and limits your field of vision to strictly seeing images in your central vision, or straight ahead.
    Peripheral vision is affected first, and if not effectively controlled at this point, can result in tunnel vision. As the disease progresses, central vision is affected next, leaving the person with partial, or complete permanent vision loss.
    Glaucoma affects more than 70 million people, worldwide. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and accounts for 12.3% of global blindness. Glaucoma affects up to 5% of adults ages 70 and above, and increases to over 9% for those 80 and older.