Glaucoma

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Glaucoma occurs when there are dangerous increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) from other eye diseases. This pressure can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.

A failure of the eye to maintain a good balance between the amount of fluids produced and the amount drained away is usually the cause of glaucoma.

Pain is usually non-existent, and therefore glaucoma often goes undetected. You should have regular eye exams by an eye doctor to monitor your IOP and look for any increases that may indicate a problem.

There are two major types of glaucoma:

Narrow-angle glaucoma - produces sudden symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, halos around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea and vomiting.
Primary open-angle glaucoma - gradually reduces your peripheral vision. If your IOP remains high, the deterioration can progress until tunnel vision develops, and you will be able to see only objects that are straight ahead.

Glaucoma treatments vary from glaucoma surgery, including lasers, to glaucoma medication, depending on the severity of your case.

For more information on glaucoma, treatments and causes, visit AllAboutVision.com's Consumer Guide to Glaucoma.