Elevated IOP is caused by inhibited or obstructed outflow, not oversecretion; a combination of factors in the trabecular meshwork eg, dysregulation of extracellular matrix, cytoskeletal abnormalities appear to be involved. In open-angle glaucoma Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Primary open-angle glaucoma is a syndrome of optic nerve damage associated with an open anterior chamber angle and an elevated or sometimes average intraocular pressure IOP.

In angle-closure glaucoma Angle-Closure Glaucoma Angle-closure glaucoma is glaucoma associated with a physically obstructed anterior chamber angle, which may be chronic or, rarely, acute. Inside the eye are two fluid-filled chambers. Intraocular fluid, or eye fluid, is responsible for maintaining the correct amount of pressure inside the eye, which keeps the shape of the eye intact. This fluid is clear and watery in the front, or anterior chamber of the eye.

The back, or posterior larger chamber, is filled with a thick, jelly-like fluid, which is referred to as the vitreous humor. The clear and watery eye fluid in the anterior chamber is called the aqueous humor, which is continually being formed and absorbed as it flows through the eye. This fluid is formed near the lens, flows to the front chamber of the eye, and then drains into the venous system through a tiny drainage duct.

Glaucoma, which is a common cause of blindness, is a disease that affects the drainage of the aqueous humor causing pressure to build within the eye. There are many types and causes of glaucoma.

Often, glaucoma occurs when either a sponge-like meshwork that filters eye fluid becomes compacted and prevents fluid from entering the duct, or when the iris of the eye covers the canal opening. In either case, the accumulation of fluid within the eye creates pressure that pushes on the back of the eye and damages the optic nerve.

This nerve is responsible for transmitting the images to the brain. Over time, the increased pressure can result in blind spots and even total blindness. Appropriate therapy can halt or slow disease progression but cannot restore lost vision. Symptoms and signs of glaucoma vary with the type of glaucoma, but the defining characteristic is optic nerve damage as evidenced by an abnormal optic disk Optic nerve appearance Primary open-angle glaucoma is a syndrome of optic nerve damage associated with an open anterior chamber angle and an elevated or sometimes average intraocular pressure IOP.

Intraocular pressure IOP may be elevated or within the average range. For techniques of measurement, see Testing Testing The eye can be examined with routine equipment, including a standard ophthalmoscope; thorough examination requires special equipment and evaluation by an ophthalmologist. History includes location Such patients and those with any risk factors should be referred to an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive examination that includes a thorough history, family history, examination of the optic disks preferably using a binocular examination technique , formal visual field examination, tonometry Tonometry The eye can be examined with routine equipment, including a standard ophthalmoscope; thorough examination requires special equipment and evaluation by an ophthalmologist.

Glaucoma is diagnosed when characteristic findings of optic nerve damage are present and other causes eg, multiple sclerosis have been excluded. Elevated IOP makes the diagnosis more likely, but elevated IOP can occur in the absence of glaucoma and is not essential for making the diagnosis. Low-tension low-pressure or normal-pressure glaucoma glaucoma occurring with IOP 21 mmHg comprises about one third of all open-angle glaucomas in the United States and is even more common in Asia.

Screening for glaucoma can be done by primary physicians by checking visual fields with frequency-doubling technology FDT perimetry and ophthalmoscopic evaluation of the optic nerve. FDT perimetry involves use of a desktop device that can screen for visual field abnormalities suggestive of glaucoma in 2 to 3 minutes per eye. Although IOP should be measured, screening based only on IOP has low sensitivity, low specificity, and low positive predictive value.

The thickness of your cornea can negatively impact the diagnostic test, so it is important for our team to evaluate your eyes closely. Although every glaucoma case is unique in its nature, our vision care experts most commonly diagnose patients with the following forms of glaucoma:.

Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common types of glaucoma. In this case, the disease is caused by a backup of fluid in the cavity of your eye. Generally, open-angle glaucoma is difficult to detect because of the lack of symptoms associated with the condition. In most cases, patients will experience vision loss when the disease is in its advances stages. Angle-closure glaucoma is an eye condition that hinders your eyes ability to properly drain.

The complication results in excessive eye pressure and eventually causes nerve damage. Because rapid pupil dilation can speed the progression of angle-closure glaucoma, our doctors often prescribe medications and topical treatments to control the condition. Low tension glaucoma develops even if the pressure in your eye is normal.

Although our sight specialists can easily detect this form of glaucoma, it is quite difficult for a patient recognize symptoms. Pigmentary glaucoma is one of the easiest forms of glaucoma to detect and is most commonly discovered in young adults. The eye condition can obscure the dispersion of outflow fluid, which results in an increase in pressure. To schedule a glaucoma diagnosis screening at either our Merrillville or Hobart eye centers in Indiana, we encourage you to contact us today!

Don't wait until your vision is deteriorating, let's catch your eye condition before it takes a toll on your health. Using the latest technologies and techniques, Dr. David Gross, Dr. Jeffrey Nelson, and Dr. Jamie Taffora can truly transform your vision.

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