Focus on Eyes: Glaucoma can lead to blindness; know the signs and get your eyes checked

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Glaucoma is the leading cause of visual loss in the United States. It develops when the pressure inside the eye causes damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain.

There are many different types of glaucoma.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month in the U.S.

Open angle glaucoma

Open angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma in the country.

Open angle is where the cornea (the transparent tissue in the front of the eye) meets the iris (the colored part of the eye). The aqueous is a clear fluid in the front of the eye between the lens and cornea. The aqueous filters through the trabecular meshwork, the tissue at the angle to exit the eye.

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In open angle glaucoma, the aqueous encounters resistance in the trabecular meshwork and the intraocular pressure goes up.

The increased eye pressure slowly damages the optic nerve. The visual loss starts gradually in the peripheral vision.

Many people may not notice any symptoms until they experience the loss of central vision.

The treatments of open angle glaucoma include topical and oral medications, laser and surgery.

Normal tension glaucoma

Normal tension glaucoma is a form of open angle glaucoma when optic nerve damage happens with normal eye pressure.

The exact cause of normal tension glaucoma is still under investigation. Treatments that lower the eye pressure can help to slow and stop the visual loss.

Angle closure glaucoma

Angle closure glaucoma, or narrow angle glaucoma, is an eye emergency.

The angle becomes very narrow or closes and the aqueous has difficulty draining out of the eye.

The pressure inside the eye builds up rapidly. The eye becomes red, painful and blurry.

Sometimes there are associated headaches and nausea. If left untreated angle closure glaucoma can result in blindness in a few days.

The treatments consist of laser to open the angle, and medication to lower the eye pressure and calm down the inflammation.

When narrow angle is detected during a regular eye examination, a prophylactic laser is highly recommended to prevent angle closure attack.

Congenital glaucoma

Congenital glaucoma is a rare form of glaucoma that happens in babies.

Infants with congenital glaucoma have larger than normal eyes, cloudy cornea, light sensitivity and excessive tearing.

Surgery and medications work well to control the eye pressure.

Secondary glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma is glaucoma as a result of another medical condition.

Eye trauma can damage the angle or the trabecular meshwork resulting in high eye pressure.

Recurrent inflammation inside the eye may damage the trabecular meshwork, interfering the flow of aqueous and, as a result, eye pressure goes up.

Chronic steroid use may raise eye pressure as a side effect.

Most forms of glaucoma have little or no symptoms at the early stage. The best way to detect glaucoma is to have regular eye examinations.

Early diagnosis and treatment can often stop visual loss from glaucoma.

Dr. Frederick Ho, the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MD is located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Glaucoma is treatable but can lead to blindness of it is ignored