Glaucoma is a collection of eye diseases that can slowly cause loss of eyesight by harming the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a long-lasting, permanent condition that does not cause immediate blindness. Damage to eyesight caused by glaucoma is most often seen as dark patches or areas of blindness. Patients with glaucoma can maintain 20/20 eyesight, but will see dark patches in their field of vision that can become bigger if glaucoma gets worse.
Patients and caregivers often have many questions about glaucoma. The most commonly asked questions include:
No. Glaucoma is not usually painful. Glaucoma is often called the sneak thief of sight because it usually has no warning signs except for gradual loss of eyesight over time.
Finding out early that you have high eye pressure, getting proper treatment, and listening to your eye doctor are the best ways to prevent loss of eyesight caused by the most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Eye pressure is created by fluid that is continually produced by your eyes. This fluid creates pressure and gives your eyes their shape. It is normal for all people to have eye pressures that are within a healthy range. However, high eye pressure can slowly cause damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends images from your eyes to your brain so that you can see. When the optic nerve is harmed, patients with glaucoma slowly lose eyesight as seen by dark patches or areas of blindness. The scientific term for eye pressure is intraocular pressure (IOP).
What is primary open-angle glaucoma?
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma. In POAG, patients have high eye pressure caused by a build-up of fluid in the eyes. In healthy eyes, fluid is continually being created within the eye and drained to keep eye pressure in a normal range. In POAG, the fluid inside of the eye is not able to drain as well as it should because the drainage system becomes blocked over time. This blockage causes the fluid inside of the eyes to build up creating high eye pressure.
Are cataracts and glaucoma related?
Many individuals, typically over the age of 60, are diagnosed with cataracts; the clouding of the lens in the eye. Trauma to the eye or certain medications may lead to glaucoma or cataracts. It is important to be well informed of the possible side effects of medications. Although some patients have both cataracts and glaucoma, having glaucoma does not necessarily mean that you will get cataracts and having cataracts does not necessarily mean that you will get glaucoma.
While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are many different treatment options that help prevent the loss of eyesight caused by high eye pressure and glaucoma. Your eye doctor will help you to control your eye pressure with regular eye exams and continued treatment.
