Acute angle closure glaucoma of a person's right eye (shown at left). Note the mid-sized pupil, which is non-reactive to light, and redness of the white part of the eye.
Specialty
Ophthalmology, optometry
Symptoms
Vision loss
eye pain
mid-dilated pupil
redness of the eye
nausea
[1][2]
Usual onset
Gradual, or sudden[2]
Risk factors
Increased pressure in the eye, family history, high blood pressure[1]
Diagnostic method
Dilated eye examination[1]
Differential diagnosis
Uveitis, trauma, keratitis, conjunctivitis[3]
Treatment
Medication, laser, surgery[1]
Frequency
6–67 million[2][4]
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that lead to damage of the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma may cause vision loss if left untreated. It has been called the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision usually occurs slowly over a long period of time.[5] A major risk factor for glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP).[1] It is associated with old age, a family history of glaucoma, and certain medical conditions or medications.[6] The word glaucoma comes from the Ancient Greek word γλαυκός (glaukós), meaning 'gleaming, blue-green, gray'.
There are different types of glaucoma, but the most common are called open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma.[7] Inside the eye, a liquid called aqueous humor helps to maintain shape and provides nutrients. The aqueous humor normally drains through the trabecular meshwork. In open-angle glaucoma, the draining is impeded, causing the liquid to accumulate and pressure inside the eye to increase. This elevated pressure can damage the optic nerve. In closed-angle glaucoma, the drainage of the eye becomes suddenly blocked, leading to a rapid increase in intraocular pressure. This may lead to intense eye pain, blurred vision, and nausea. Closed-angle glaucoma is an emergency requiring immediate attention.[1]
If treated early, it is possible to slow or stop the progression of glaucoma. Regular eye examinations, especially if the person is over 40 or has a family history of glaucoma, are essential for early detection.[8] Treatment typically includes prescription of eye drops, medication, laser treatment or surgery.[1][9] The goal of these treatments is to decrease eye pressure.[2]
About 80 million people worldwide have glaucoma, with 50% unaware that they are affected.[10] It is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans, Hispanic Americans,[11][12] and Asians.[13] It occurs more commonly among older people,[1] and closed-angle glaucoma is more common in women.[2] Worldwide, glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness after cataracts, and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.[2][14][15]
^ abcdefgh"Facts About Glaucoma". National Eye Institute. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
^Ferri FF (2010). Ferri's differential diagnosis : a practical guide to the differential diagnosis of symptoms, signs, and clinical disorders (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Mosby. p. Chapter G. ISBN 978-0-323-07699-9.
^Vos T, Allen C, Arora M, et al. (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1545–1602. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMC 5055577. PMID 27733282.
^"Glaucoma: The 'silent thief' begins to tell its secrets" (Press release). National Eye Institute. 21 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015.
^"Glaucoma: The 'silent thief' begins to tell its secrets | National Eye Institute". www.nei.nih.gov. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
^"Glaucoma: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
^"Glaucoma - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
^Vass C, Hirn C, Sycha T, Findl O, Bauer P, Schmetterer L (October 2007). "Medical interventions for primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007 (4): CD003167. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003167.pub3. PMC 6768994. PMID 17943780.
^willem3bergen (8 March 2018). "Statistics". Glaucoma Information. Retrieved 11 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Ou Y. "Glaucoma in the African American and Hispanic Communities". Bright Focus Foundation. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
^"Glaucoma in the African-American and Latino Communities: Studies Release More Data". American Academy of Ophthalmology. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
^Belamkar A, Harris A, Oddone F, Verticchio Vercellin A, Fabczak-Kubicka A, Siesky B (28 April 2022). "Asian Race and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Where Do We Stand?". Journal of Clinical Medicine. 11 (9): 2486. doi:10.3390/jcm11092486. ISSN 2077-0383. PMC 9099679. PMID 35566612.
^Cite error: The named reference Stein 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Resnikoff S, Pascolini D, Etya'ale D, Kocur I, Pararajasegaram R, Pokharel GP, Mariotti SP (November 2004). "Global data on visual impairment in the year 2002". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 82 (11): 844–851. hdl:10665/269277. PMC 2623053. PMID 15640920.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that lead to damage of the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma may...
Primary juvenile glaucoma is a subtype of primary congenital glaucoma that develops due to ocular hypertension and is diagnosed between three years of...
Canine glaucoma refers to a group of diseases in dogs that affect the optic nerve and involve a loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern...
Glaucoma is a group of diseases affecting the optic nerve that results in vision loss and is frequently characterized by raised intraocular pressure (IOP)...
Phacolytic glaucoma (PG) is a form of glaucoma which is caused due to a leaking mature or immature cataract. Inflammatory glaucoma which occurs in phacolysis...
turn, a buildup of pressure leading to glaucoma and loss of vision (pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma). As worldwide populations become older...
Secondary glaucoma is a collection of progressive optic nerve disorders associated with a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) which results in the loss...
Glaucoma medication is divided into groups based on chemical structure and pharmacologic action. The goal of currently available glaucoma therapy is to...
A glaucoma valve is a medical shunt used in the treatment of glaucoma to reduce the eye's intraocular pressure (IOP). The device works by bypassing the...
(intraocular pressure). This includes ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. Latanaprost is applied as eye drops to the eyes. Onset of effects is usually...
circular tunnel-like field of vision. Tunnel vision can be caused by: Glaucoma, a disease of the eye. Retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of the eye. Blood...
tension glaucoma (NTG) is an eye disease, a neuropathy of the optic nerve, that shows all the characteristics of primary open angle glaucoma except one:...
factor in many forms of glaucoma. Lens induced glaucomas or Lens related glaucomas are either open-angle or closed-angle glaucomas that can occur due to...
syndrome (PDS) is an eye disorder that can lead to a form of glaucoma known as pigmentary glaucoma. It takes place when pigment cells slough off from the back...
under the trade name Diamox among others, is a medication used to treat glaucoma, epilepsy, acute mountain sickness, periodic paralysis, idiopathic intracranial...
In glaucoma, visual field defects result from damage to the retinal nerve fiber layer. Field defects are seen mainly in primary open angle glaucoma. Because...
Phacomorphic glaucoma is an eye disease that can occur due to a neglected advanced cataract. In this, the mature cataractous lens cause secondary angle...
Used for macula, retinal and neuro-ophthalmic conditions and advanced glaucoma 24-2: Measures 24 degrees temporally and 30 degrees nasally and tests 54...
Uveitic glaucoma (or uveitis glaucoma, or anterior uveitic glaucoma, or anterior noninfectious uveitic glaucoma, or uveitis associated with glaucoma, or iritic...
this. IOP is an important aspect in the evaluation of patients at risk of glaucoma. Most tonometers are calibrated to measure pressure in millimeters of mercury...
used to manage angle closure glaucoma until surgery can be performed, ocular hypertension, primary open angle glaucoma, and to constrict the pupil after...
extraction is the most common eye surgery. Rest after surgery is recommended. Glaucoma is a group of diseases affecting the optic nerve that results in vision...
being affected. Three genes belonging to the breed were associated with glaucoma were found in an analysis of DNA sequencing. Another study from Japan reviewing...
occurs this way). The uveo-scleral pathway is increased with the use of glaucoma drugs such as prostaglandins (e.g., Xalatan, Travatan). The trabecular...
Global Information