Glaucoma (patient information): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
Line 13: Line 13:
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. There are many types of glaucoma, including:
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. There are many types of glaucoma, including:


* Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma
* Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma -
* Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma
* Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma
* Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma
* Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma
* Congenital glaucoma
* Congenital glaucoma
* Secondary glaucoma
* Secondary glaucoma
    * Pigmentary glaucoma
    * Neovascular glaucoma


==What are the symptoms of glaucoma?==
==What are the symptoms of glaucoma?==
Line 45: Line 47:
* [[Red eye]]
* [[Red eye]]
* Sensitivity to light
* Sensitivity to light
* [[Tears|Tearing]]
* Excessive [[Tears|Tearing]]


==What are the causes of glaucoma?==
==What are the causes of glaucoma?==
Line 56: Line 58:


'''Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma'''
'''Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma'''
* The cause is unknown. An increase in [[eye pressure]] occurs slowly over time. The pressure pushes on the [[optic nerve]] and the [[retina]] at the back of the [[eye]].
* The cause is unknown. An increase in [[eye pressure]] occurs slowly over time. The pressure pushes on the [[optic nerve]] and the [[retina]] at the back of the [[eye]].
* Open-angle glaucoma tends to [[Heredity|run in families]]. Your risk is higher if you have a parent or grandparent with open-angle glaucoma. People of African descent are at particularly high risk for this [[disease]].
* Open-angle glaucoma tends to [[Heredity|run in families]]. Your risk is higher if you have a parent or grandparent with open-angle glaucoma. People of African descent are at particularly high risk for this [[disease]].


Line 65: Line 67:
'''Congenital glaucoma'''
'''Congenital glaucoma'''
* It is present at birth and results from the abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels in the eye.
* It is present at birth and results from the abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels in the eye.
* It is often [[hereditary]] and runs in families.
* It is often [[hereditary]] and tends to run in families.


'''Secondary glaucoma'''
'''Secondary glaucoma'''
* It can be caused by drugs such as [[corticosteroids]]
* It is caused as complications of other medical conditions and/or procedures, including eye surgery, advanced cataracts, eye injuries, certain eye tumors, and [[uveitis]]. <ref>http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp</ref>
* Eye diseases such as [[uveitis]] and certain systemic diseases may cause it.
* It can be caused by drugs such as [[corticosteroids]], which are used to treat eye inflammations.
* Two types of secondary glaucoma are:
    * Pigmentary glaucoma is caused when pigment from the iris breaks off, thereby slowing the fluid drainage and blocking the meshwork.
    * Neovascular glaucoma is a severe form of secondary glaucoma that is linked to diabetes.<ref>http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp</ref>
 


==Who is at risk for glaucoma?==
==Who is at risk for glaucoma?==


[[Ocular hypertension]] is the most important risk factor for glaucoma.
[[Ocular hypertension]] is the most important risk factor for glaucoma.
'''Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma'''
* Low blood pressure contributes to low-tension glaucoma.


==How to know you have glaucoma?==
==How to know you have glaucoma?==
Line 80: Line 89:


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
'''Congenital glaucoma'''
Conventional surgery typically is the suggested treatment, as medicines may have unknown effects in infants and be difficult to administer.


==Diseases with similar symptoms==
==Diseases with similar symptoms==
Line 91: Line 103:


Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the [[optic nerve]] and resultant [[visual field]] loss, which can progress to [[blindness]].
Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the [[optic nerve]] and resultant [[visual field]] loss, which can progress to [[blindness]].
'''Congenital glaucoma'''
Surgery in children with congenital glaucoma is safe and effective. If surgery is done promptly, these children typically have an excellent chance of having good vision.


==Sources==
==Sources==

Revision as of 18:17, 14 January 2010

WikiDoc Resources for Glaucoma (patient information)

Articles

Most recent articles on Glaucoma (patient information)

Most cited articles on Glaucoma (patient information)

Review articles on Glaucoma (patient information)

Articles on Glaucoma (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Glaucoma (patient information)

Images of Glaucoma (patient information)

Photos of Glaucoma (patient information)

Podcasts & MP3s on Glaucoma (patient information)

Videos on Glaucoma (patient information)

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Glaucoma (patient information)

Bandolier on Glaucoma (patient information)

TRIP on Glaucoma (patient information)

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Glaucoma (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Glaucoma (patient information)

Clinical Trials on Glaucoma (patient information) at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Glaucoma (patient information)

NICE Guidance on Glaucoma (patient information)

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Glaucoma (patient information)

CDC on Glaucoma (patient information)

Books

Books on Glaucoma (patient information)

News

Glaucoma (patient information) in the news

Be alerted to news on Glaucoma (patient information)

News trends on Glaucoma (patient information)

Commentary

Blogs on Glaucoma (patient information)

Definitions

Definitions of Glaucoma (patient information)

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Glaucoma (patient information)

Discussion groups on Glaucoma (patient information)

Patient Handouts on Glaucoma (patient information)

Directions to Hospitals Treating Glaucoma (patient information)

Risk calculators and risk factors for Glaucoma (patient information)

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Glaucoma (patient information)

Causes & Risk Factors for Glaucoma (patient information)

Diagnostic studies for Glaucoma (patient information)

Treatment of Glaucoma (patient information)

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Glaucoma (patient information)

International

Glaucoma (patient information) en Espanol

Glaucoma (patient information) en Francais

Business

Glaucoma (patient information) in the Marketplace

Patents on Glaucoma (patient information)

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Glaucoma (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Erin E. Lord

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye. [1]

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. There are many types of glaucoma, including:

  • Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma -
  • Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma
  • Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma
  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Secondary glaucoma
    * Pigmentary glaucoma
    * Neovascular glaucoma

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Symptoms of glaucoma vary greatly, depending on the type of disease present.

Open-angle glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma

  • Symptoms may come and go at first, or steadily become worse
  • Sudden, severe pain in one eye
  • Decreased or cloudy vision
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Rainbow-like halos around lights
  • Red eye
  • Eye feels swollen

Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma

  • Narrowed side vision in people with normal eye pressure

Congenital glaucoma

  • Symptoms are usually noticed when the child is a few months old
  • Cloudiness of the front of the eye
  • Enlargement of one eye or both eyes
  • Red eye
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Excessive Tearing

What are the causes of glaucoma?

The four major types of glaucoma have their own unique causes. However, before reviewing them, a brief overview of the anatomy of the eye may be helpful in understanding the causes of this disease:

The front part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid called aqueous humor. This fluid is always being made in the back of the eye. It leaves the eye through channels in the front of the eye in an area called the anterior chamber angle, or simply the angle. Anything that slows or blocks the flow of this fluid out of the eye will cause pressure to build up in the eye. This pressure is called intraocular pressure (IOP). In most cases of glaucoma, this pressure is high and causes damage to the major nerve in the eye, called the optic nerve.

More specific causes by each major type of glaucoma are:

Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma

  • The cause is unknown. An increase in eye pressure occurs slowly over time. The pressure pushes on the optic nerve and the retina at the back of the eye.
  • Open-angle glaucoma tends to run in families. Your risk is higher if you have a parent or grandparent with open-angle glaucoma. People of African descent are at particularly high risk for this disease.

Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma

Congenital glaucoma

  • It is present at birth and results from the abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels in the eye.
  • It is often hereditary and tends to run in families.

Secondary glaucoma

  • It is caused as complications of other medical conditions and/or procedures, including eye surgery, advanced cataracts, eye injuries, certain eye tumors, and uveitis. [2]
  • It can be caused by drugs such as corticosteroids, which are used to treat eye inflammations.
  • Two types of secondary glaucoma are:
    * Pigmentary glaucoma is caused when pigment from the iris breaks off, thereby slowing the fluid drainage and blocking the meshwork.
    * Neovascular glaucoma is a severe form of secondary glaucoma that is linked to diabetes.[3]


Who is at risk for glaucoma?

Ocular hypertension is the most important risk factor for glaucoma.

Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma

  • Low blood pressure contributes to low-tension glaucoma.

How to know you have glaucoma?

When to seek urgent medical care

Treatment options

Congenital glaucoma Conventional surgery typically is the suggested treatment, as medicines may have unknown effects in infants and be difficult to administer.

Diseases with similar symptoms

Where to find medical care for glaucoma

Directions to Hospitals Treating glaucoma

Prevention of glaucoma

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)

Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.


Congenital glaucoma Surgery in children with congenital glaucoma is safe and effective. If surgery is done promptly, these children typically have an excellent chance of having good vision.


Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001620.htm

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp

Template:SIB Template:WH Template:WS