Glaucoma encompasses a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve and are usually characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure (pressure in the eye) that worsens without treatment and causes vision loss. It usually presents no pain or symptoms at the onset, so early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing serious vision damage. Although this disease is not curable, early detection through an annual ophthalmic examination can allow immediate treatment which can slow the progression of the disease and preserve vision.
How Glaucoma Occurs
Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is affected by poor drainage from the eye and increased eye pressure. Your optic nerve contains over a million nerve fibers which connect the retina (the back portion of your eye that receives light images) to your brain. Fluid (aqueous humor) normally circulates through your eye’s anterior chamber and flows out through mesh-like eye tissue (trabecular meshwork) that acts as a drain. If the fluid drains too slowly or the channel is blocked, eye pressure can increase as a result of fluid build-up. This intraocular pressure can then damage the optic nerve and cause permanent vision loss.
Although there is no known cause for why an increase in intraocular pressure occurs, it can be hereditary. Patients with a family history should be proactive in having their eyes evaluated on a regular basis.
Other risk factors for developing glaucoma include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- History of eye problems, such as inflammation, blood vessel blockage, or infection of the eye
- Previous eye injury or trauma
- Being of African American, Hispanic, Scandinavian, Irish, Inuit, or Japanese descent
- Taking certain medications, such as prednisone
Symptoms
Patients with glaucoma typically show no early symptoms, which makes staying up-to-date on your annual ophthalmic exam extremely important. Left undetected, the disease will begin to affect peripheral (side) vision first. As it progresses, patients will continue to lose their peripheral vision until they see things as if through a tunnel. Without treatment, increased intraocular pressure will eventually affect central vision and then cause total blindness.
When intraocular pressure increases, other symptoms can include:
- Halos around light
- Sudden eye pain
- Headache
- Blurry vision
- Red or hazy eyes
- Nausea and/or vomiting
Diagnosis
Diagnosis will involve a comprehensive and painless dilated eye examination. Vision testing may include:
- Visual field test: Measures peripheral vision
- Visual acuity test (eye chart): Determines vision accuracy at various distances
- Dilated eye exam: Evaluation of the retina and optic nerve for glacomatous cupping through the use of dilating eye drops and a magnifying lens
- Pachymetry: Measures corneal thickness (a factor in glaucoma development) with a medical ultrasonic wave device (pachymeter)
- Tonometry: Measures intraocular pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) by calculating the amount of force needed to gently flatten the cornea. Corneal resistance can be determined using a puff of air (noncontact tonometry), a special rounded electronic tool (electronic indentation tonometry), or a small probe (applanation or Goldmann tonometry).
Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) does not necessarily indicate an abnormality, as the optic nerve’s ability to tolerate pressure varies depending on the patient. In some cases, glaucoma may develop without any increased eye pressure being present.
Types of Glaucoma
Open-angle (also called primary, wide-angle, or chronic glaucoma): The most common type in which the fluid of the eye does not drain through the trabecular meshwork properly. The slow build-up of fluid causes an increase in intraocular pressure and damages the optic nerve over time. Open-angle comprises about 90% of all cases and affects approximately 3 million Americans. “Open-angle” refers to the width of the angle where the cornea meets the iris.
Angle-closure (also called chronic angle-closure, acute, or narrow-angle): Eye pressure is increased, similar to open-angle, and characterized by a narrow or closed-angle between the cornea and the iris. Eye pressure increases quickly when the iris blocks the angle causing severe pain, redness of the eye, nausea, and blurred vision. Unlike open-angle, angle-closure glaucoma usually develops suddenly with noticeable symptoms and requires immediate medical attention.
Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma (NTG): In this type, intraocular pressure remains normal. The optic nerve becomes damaged without an increase or very little increase in eye pressure. There is no known cause for the development of NTG.
Congenital glaucoma: This is present at birth due to a defect in the eye angle which results in slow fluid drainage. Children with this disease typically present with symptoms such as:
- Cloudy eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Light sensitivity
With prompt conventional surgery, children with this disease have an excellent possibility of having an undamaged vision. Medications are typically not recommended for congenital glaucoma due to the age of the patients and the possibility of side effects.
There are variants of glaucoma, or secondary glaucomas, which can occur as complications of other existing medical conditions. Glaucoma can also develop after eye surgery or an injury to the eye (traumatic glaucoma).
Other types of secondary glaucoma include:
- Neovascular glaucoma: Often severe form which occurs as a result of uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure
- Pigmentary glaucoma: Involves the pigment of the iris shedding and blocking the meshwork thus slowing down fluid drainage
- Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: The internal eye structures produce unnecessary materials and slow eye drainage
- Uveitic glaucoma: This occurs as a complication of uveitis, an ocular inflammatory disorder that causes swelling and damages eye tissue. Up to 20% of patients with uveitis may develop glaucoma due to the inflammatory debris associated with uveitis obstructing the trabecular meshwork of the eye and decreasing fluid drainage.
- Iridocorneal endothelial syndrome (ICE): Rare form characterized by corneal swelling and changes in the iris. Corneal cells moving to the iris can block the meshwork and cause poor fluid drainage, intraocular pressure, and eventually optic nerve damage and vison loss.
Treatment
Effective treatment will involve early detection and may include a combination of available therapies. Treatments, when administered at the onset of increased intraocular pressure development, can preserve sight, however, any vision previously lost is permanent.
Treatments include:
Medication: Eye drops or pills to lower eye pressure or to lessen fluid production are the most common early treatment. Because medicines can interfere with other drugs, you should inform your doctor of any medications or supplements you take. Regularly taking your glaucoma medicine is vital to controlling eye pressure and slowing the progression of the disease.
Be sure you are comfortable with instilling eye drops prescribed for your glaucoma, as it is extremely important that the medicine is dispensed properly. If you have any side effects from your medication, such as headaches or red, stinging, or burning eyes, contact your doctor. Adjusting your dose or using a different medication may be an option.
Laser surgery: During laser surgery, the eye is numbed with a topical anesthetic, and a laser is used to create better drainage. Types of laser surgery are:
- Trabeculoplasty: Laser stretches the trabecular meshwork to allow drainage from the eye
- Iridotomy: Laser creates a small hole in the iris from which fluid can flow freely
- Cyclophotocoagulation: Laser is used to treat the eye’s middle layer, thereby reducing fluid production
Laser surgery for glaucoma is performed as an in-office procedure, typically one eye at a time, with several days or weeks between procedures.
Microsurgery or conventional glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy): Traditional operating room surgery in which your doctor numbs the eye and removes a small amount of eye tissue to create a new channel for fluid drainage. Conventional surgery is often reserved for patients whose disease has not responded to other treatments and is usually 60-80% effective in lowering intraocular pressure. As with laser surgery, each eye is operated on separately, with a few weeks in between procedures. After a trabeculectomy, you will use eye drops (different than eye drops for high pressure) to prevent inflammation and infection.
As with any surgery, side effects can occur with laser or conventional procedures. Side effects, although rare, can include:
- Cataract
- Corneal problems
- Low eye pressure
- Inflammation or infection of the eye
Several follow-up appointments will be needed to monitor your eye pressure and check your progress after surgery. You may still need to take eyedrops after your surgery to keep eye pressure stabilized. Research shows that surgery can have extremely good results of eye pressure reduction, although, over time, the effects may wear off and require additional treatment.
Managing Glaucoma
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, it is essential to closely follow your treatment plan. Proper use of eye medicine improves its effectiveness and minimizes the risk of side effects. Take an active role in your care and always ask questions if you are unsure of a component of your treatment or condition.
If you have vision loss, low vision specialists are available to assist you with counseling, training, and services that are offered for those with visual impairment. Low vision devices can help you utilize remaining vision to the fullest.
Glaucoma patients should have regular professional eye care exams and encourage family members, who may be at high risk for developing glaucoma, to stay up-to-date with their annual ophthalmic exam as well.
If you would like to learn more, please or call our Fort Worth office at 817-732-5593