Glaucoma

About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often due to elevated intraocular pressure IOP, leading to progressive irreversible vision loss. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, affecting approximately 80 million people. The most common type, primary open angle glaucoma POAG, develops gradually when the eyes drainage canals become clogged. It is painless and asymptomatic until significant vision loss occurs, starting with peripheral vision. Acute angle closure glaucoma is a medical emergency presenting with sudden severe eye pain, headache, blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea, and vomiting, requiring immediate treatment to prevent permanent blindness; it needs emergency care via urgent eye services or the local emergency number. Normal tension glaucoma causes optic nerve damage despite normal IOP. Risk factors include elevated IOP over 21 mm Hg, age over 60, African or Hispanic ancestry, family history, hyperopia for angle closure, diabetes, and corticosteroid use. Diagnosis requires comprehensive eye examination including tonometry IOP measurement, optic nerve evaluation, visual field testing, and optical coherence tomography OCT of the nerve fiber layer. Treatment may include prostaglandin analogs latanoprost, timolol beta blockers, and alpha agonists brimonidine as eye drops. Laser trabeculoplasty and surgery trabeculectomy, MIGS are options when medications are insufficient. Early detection through screening is critical because vision loss is irreversible.