What is Glaucoma?
There are several types of glaucoma, but all have one thing in common: damage to the optic nerve in the back of the eye. The eye pressure may not always be elevated, but peripheral vision examinations will detect it. It is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly and in African-Americans.
Most people will have the open-angle variety of glaucoma (also called primary open-angle, or chronic simple glaucoma).
What are the different types of Glaucoma?
There are really six types of glaucoma, including chronic open-angle glaucoma. The other types are congenital, narrow-angle, secondary, low tension and glaucoma suspect. All six types share damage to the optic nerve through a mechanism of elevated pressure in the eye, poor blood supply in the optic nerve, or both.
What are the treatment options for Glaucoma?
Eye drops, laser therapy (especially for the narrow-angle variety) and surgery are the conventional treatment options and are required if you continue to lose peripheral vision (tested by visual field exams).
