Glaucoma is a disease that damages the main nerve in the eye, called the optic nerve. It causes vision loss and can even lead to blindness. There are different types of glaucoma. The most common is called "chronic open-angle glaucoma."
At first, open-angle glaucoma does not usually cause symptoms. When it does cause vision loss, it starts by affecting the edges of what you see (picture 1). In other words, the center of what you look at often looks clear. But things that are off to the side do not. This is sometimes called "tunnel vision." As the disease gets worse, even your central vision can be affected.
Effective treatments for open-angle glaucoma all work by lowering the pressure inside the eye. There are 3 ways to lower eye pressure: eye drops, laser therapy, or surgery. We provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art glaucoma management at our center. A more detailed list of procedures offered and conditions treated can be found here. Click here for more procedures
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the main nerve in the eye, called the "optic nerve." There are 2 types of glaucoma. Angle-closure glaucoma (also called "narrow-angle glaucoma") is the less common type. The more common type is called "open-angle glaucoma."
Glaucoma is usually caused by pressure inside the eye. Angle-closure glaucoma happens when the fluid-draining system in the eye gets blocked. This causes eye pressure to rise quickly. It is different from open-angle glaucoma, which happens when eye pressure builds up slowly.
The symptoms include:
Treatments for angle-closure glaucoma work by lowering the pressure inside the eye. They include medicines, laser therapy, and surgery. We provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art glaucoma management at our center. A more detailed list of procedures offered and conditions treated can be found here. Click here for more procedures
Angle-closure glaucoma is more common in some families. If you have a family history of this condition, be sure to get regular eye exams, especially after middle age. If you have angle-closure glaucoma, tell your relatives (children, brothers, or sisters) that they should be tested.
