Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss and blindness. It is caused by increased fluid pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) which can damage the optic nerve. The front of the eye produces fluid that normally drains out, but in glaucoma the fluid drainage is blocked causing pressure to rise. Glaucoma often affects older adults but can occur at any age. Risk factors include family history, age over 40, high eye pressure, diabetes, and eye injuries. Treatment options are eye drops, laser surgery, or microsurgery to improve fluid drainage from the eye.

2. ‘The term glaucoma describes a group of disease that
can lead to blindness by damaging the optic nerve.’
The human eye continuously produces a fluid, called
the aqueous, that must drain from the eye to maintain
healthy eye pressure. The increased pressure, called
intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve,
which transmits images to the brain.

3. The front part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid
called intraocular fluid or aqueous humor, made by
the ciliary body. Proper drainage helps to maintain
normal eye pressure.

5. Glaucoma most often occurs in adults over age 40, but
it can also occur in young adults, children, and even
infants. You are at an increased risk of glaucoma if you:
Are over age 40
Have a family history of glaucoma
Have poor vision
Have diabetes
Take certain steroid medications
Have had trauma to the eyes

6. Seeing halos around lights
Vision loss
Redness in the eye
Eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
Nausea or vomiting
Pain in the eye
Narrowing of vision

7. There are several types of glaucoma.
Open angle glaucoma
Angle closure glaucoma
Normal tension glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma
Congenital glaucoma

8. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of
glaucoma, accounting for at least 90% of all glaucoma
cases:
Is caused by the slow clogging of the drainage canals,
resulting in increased eye pressure
Has a wide and open angle between the iris and
cornea
Develops slowly and is a lifelong condition
Has symptoms and damage that are not noticed

9. www.galucoma.org

10. Angle-closure glaucoma, a less common form of
glaucoma:
Is caused by blocked drainage canals, resulting in a
sudden rise in intraocular pressure
Has a closed or narrow angle between the iris and
cornea
Develops very quickly
Has symptoms and damage that are usually very
noticeable
Demands immediate medical attention

11. www.galucoma.org

12. Also called low-tension or normal-pressure glaucoma.
In normal-tension glaucoma the optic nerve is
damaged even though the eye pressure is not very
high. it is still unknown why some people’s get
damaged their optic nerves even though they have
almost normal pressure levels.

13. It develops as secondary to, or as complications of,
other conditions, including:
 cataracts
diabetes
eye trauma
eye surgery
or tumors

14. Congenital glaucoma — also referred to as Childhood
glaucoma or infantile glaucoma — occurs in babies
and young children. It is usually diagnosed within the
first year of life.
This is a rare condition that may be inherited, caused
by incorrect development of the eye’s drainage system
before birth. This leads to increased intraocular
pressure, which in turn damages the optic nerve.

15. Glaucoma is detected through a comprehensive dilated eye
exam that includes the following:
Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well
you see at various distances.
Dilated eye exam: In this exam, drops are placed in your
eyes to dilate, the pupils. A special magnifying lens is use
to examine your retina and optic nerve

16. www.slideshare.net

17. www.reviewofophthalmology.com

18. www.eyecarecompany.com

19. Glaucoma treatment may include:
 prescription eye drops
 laser surgery
 microsurgery

20. prescription eye drops:
These either reduce the formation
of fluid in front of eye or increase its outflow.
 laser surgery:
Laser surgery for glaucoma slightly
increases the outflow of the fluid from the eye in
open-angle glaucoma or eliminates fluid blockage in angle-
closure glaucoma.
 microsurgery:
In an operation called a trabeculectomy, a
new channel is created to drain the fluid, thereby reducing
intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma

21. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness
There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma
Everyone is at risk for glaucoma
There may be no symptoms to warn you