Glaucoma

The Part of the eye that is affected by glaucoma is the Optic Nerve The Part of the eye that is affected by glaucoma is the Optic Nerve. The Aqueous Humour is also affected.

The Cause: A certain level of pressure is needed within the eye for it to keep its shape. This pressure is maintained by the flow of a fluid (aqueous humour) within the eye. A balance between the fluid entering and leaving the eye determines the pressure in the eye (the intraocular pressure). Most cases of glaucoma occur because the flow of fluid out of the eye becomes restricted and the pressure within the eye rises. This pressure causes damage to the optic nerve.

Treating Glaucoma Depending upon the type of glaucoma, treatment may include Medication or medical marijuana, usually prescription eye drops, or surgery to lower the pressure in the eye and prevent further damage to the optic nerve. While there is no cure as yet for glaucoma, early diagnosis and continuing treatment can preserve eyesight.

Symptoms open-angle glaucoma has no early warning signs or symptoms. However, as the disease progresses a person may experience: Tiny blind spots appear at the edges of the visual field that slowly get larger and spread Blurred vision Appearance of colored halos around lights Adjustment problems on entering a dark room Repeated difficulties that new eyeglass prescriptions do not help Peripheral vision is decreasing The symptoms of closed angle glaucoma are: Severely blurred vision Severe eye and head pain Nausea or vomiting Appearance of rainbow-colored halos around bright lights Rapid loss of vision

Types of Glaucoma congenital glaucoma: defective development of the structures in and around the anterior chamber of the eye and resulting in impairment of aqueous humor; seen first at birth or up to age three. Donders' glaucoma: advanced open-angle glaucoma infantile glaucoma: congenital glaucoma narrow-angle glaucoma: form of primary glaucoma in an eye characterized by a shallow anterior chamber and a narrow angle, in which filtration is compromised as a result of the iris blocking the angle. open-angle glaucoma: form of primary glaucoma in an eye in which the angle of the anterior chamber remains open, but filtration is gradually diminished because of the tissues of the angle. Glaucoma. Impairment of outflow of aqueous humor is caused by closure of the anterior angle, with apposition of the iris and trabecular meshwork, in angle-closure glaucoma (A), and by other obstruction in open-angle glaucoma (B) . primary glaucoma: increased intraocular pressure occurring in an eye without previous disease.

The End