What You Need to Know About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a medical condition of the eye where the optic nerve becomes damaged, and worsens over time. The buildup of pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure, is the eye's inability to drain out the aqueous humor fluid properly. The optic nerve damage can lead to loss of vision and permanent blindness within a couple of years if left untreated.
The two main types of the disease are open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common of the pair. In the open-angle, the eye structures appear normal, but the fluid doesn't flow properly through the drain of the eyes, known as the trabecular meshwork.
The latter of the diseases, angle-closure glaucoma, is categorized by poor drainage of the eye, due to the angle between the iris and the cornea, which then becomes obstructed by the iris and results in blurred vision.
There are numerous ways in which the eye disease may be treated. The treatments are prescription eye drops for less severe problems, microsurgery to thoroughly drain out the fluid of the eye, or through various laser surgery procedures.
Editor's note - Please consult your physician if you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed below, or if you have a history of glaucoma in your family. It's important to have a complete eye exam to minimize the risks at an early stage.