Question 1

what is glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Eye disease: Eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye(s) and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It associates with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye

Question 2

does glaucoma hurt?

Accepted Answer

It can: There are 2 main types of glaucoma, closed-angle (acute) and open-angle (chronic). Acute glaucoma is less common, but can present with sudden eye pain due to an increase in intraocular pressure. Chronic glaucoma commonly does not present with eye pain as the process of the disease is more gradual. Be sure to see your doctor if you are experiencing any eye symptoms or are concerned about glaucoma.

Question 3

is glaucoma painful?

Accepted Answer

Glaucoma: A form of glaucoma called acute angle closure glaucoma can cause an abrupt rise in eye pressure that can be very painful.

Question 4

what causes glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Mostly unknown: A few cases of glaucoma occur due to trauma, inherited problems and anatomical underpinnings.  The majority - 'open angle glaucoma'- is largely age related with no known cause.

Question 5

how is glaucoma defined?

Accepted Answer

Optic nerve pressure: Glaucoma is a form of optic nerve disease, where elevated pressures &/or poor circulation  cause damage inside the eye leading to loss of peripheral vision and blindness if left untreated. In most cases, lowering iop can stop progression and prevent vision loss.

Question 6

how is glaucoma treated?

Accepted Answer

Several choices: Observation, medications (topical eye drops, oral medications), laser (in office, in or), or surgery (blebless procedures, filtering surgery, tube implant surgery, etc.).

Question 7

how is glaucoma detected?

Accepted Answer

Eye examination: Screening for glaucoma is usually performed as part of a standard eye examination performed by ophthalmologists and optometrists. Testing for glaucoma should include measurements of the intraocular pressure via tonometry, changes in size or shape of the eye, anterior chamber angle examination or gonioscopy, and examination of the optic nerve to look for any visible damage to it.

Question 8

when does glaucoma start?

Accepted Answer

Depends: There are many causes of glaucoma and some can even start at birth. If no specific cause has been identified, routine eye exams are recommended with assessments of the pressure inside the eye and the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. Increasing age, family history, and african american race are three identified factors for increased risk of primary open angle glaucoma.

Question 9

how is glaucoma diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Eye exams: Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve caused by eye pressures that are too high for the particular eye.  It is diagnosed by the eye doctor seeing the optic nerve having a special appearance, and then a test called a visual field test shows loss of vision in the outer part of the field.  
That is why we all should get eye exams starting at about 40 years of age.

Question 10

what would cause glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Age, heredity, injur: Glaucoma has multiple causes.  Most, called open angle, are age related with no actual known cause.  Some glaucomas are present at birth and are related to immature anatomy or inherited issues.  Others related to disturbance of the anatomy in people who are farsighted.  And some are due to trauma. Other conditions also contribute.  Sort yours out with your ophthalmologist.

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