What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) resulting either from malformation or malfunction of the eye’s drainage structures. Left untreated, an elevated IOP causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and retinal fibres resulting in progressive, permanent loss of vision. However, early detection and treatment can slow, or even halt the progression of the disease.

Types of Glaucoma
In acute glaucoma, there is a very rapid rise in the pressure within the eye over a short period of time like cutting off the outflow tap completely at one go. This results in a very high eye pressure, resulting in severe symptoms of pain, redness and blurring of vision as well as headache. On the other hand, chronic glaucoma is insidious and silent. The eye pressure is usually gradual, over months or years. The patient often has no symptoms until much later when advanced optic nerve damage has occurred and there is much loss of the side vision.

In general, when the cause is known, glaucoma is said to be secondary and when it is unknown, primary. The other important distinguishing feature is the appearance of the filtrating angle. When it is open, it is open-angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma develops slowly and is known as chronic (open angle) glaucoma.

When it is closed (because of narrow angle where the iris periphery comes into contact with the posterior surface of the cornea), it is known as closed-angle glaucoma.

Glaucoma can be broadly classified into four major groups as follows:

Treatment
Medical treatment is directed towards the reduction of intraocular pressure with eye drops. Often, medication in itself is not adequate and surgery or laser becomes necessary.