What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
It can occur at any age but is more common in older adults.
Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage.
Because vision loss due to glaucoma can't be recovered, it's important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately.
If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the type and stage of your condition. For example:
Open-angle glaucoma
- Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) or central vision, frequently in both eyes
- Tunnel vision in the advanced stages
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Severe headache
- Eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Halos around lights
- Eye redness
If left untreated, glaucoma will eventually cause blindness. Even with treatment, about 15 percent of people with glaucoma become blind in at least one eye within 20 years.
Causes
Glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve.
Risk factors
- Having high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
- Being over age 60
- Having a family history of glaucoma
- Some types of medications
- Having corneas that are thin in the center
- Being extremely nearsighted or farsighted
Types of glaucoma include:
There are several forms of glaucoma:
- Open-angle glaucoma
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Normal-tension glaucoma
- Glaucoma in children
- Pigmentary glaucoma
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372839
