Background

Condition Lookup

Category:

Glaucoma

Number of Conditions: 2

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Glaucoma

Symptoms:
gradual loss of peripheral vision; tunnel vision

Root Cause:
Increased eye pressure damages the optic nerve over time.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, or Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field testing.

Treatment:
Medications like Latanoprost or Timolol, laser trabeculoplasty, or surgery.

Medications:
Prostaglandin analogs (e.g., Latanoprost , Bimatoprost ), beta-blockers (e.g., Timolol ), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., Dorzolamide ), alpha agonists (e.g., Brimonidine ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 2–3% of people over 40 worldwide; most common form of glaucoma.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, high intraocular pressure, age, African or Hispanic descent.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Vision loss is irreversible, but progression can be slowed with treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Gradual loss of peripheral vision, blindness if untreated.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Category: Glaucoma

Symptoms:
severe eye pain; headaches; nausea; blurry vision; halos around lights; red eyes

Root Cause:
Sudden blockage of drainage canals raises eye pressure and damages the optic nerve.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Gonioscopy and IOP measurement.

Treatment:
Medications like Latanoprost or Timolol, laser trabeculoplasty, or surgery.

Medications:
Hyperosmotic agents (e.g., Mannitol ), acetazolamide , and surgical or laser procedures (e.g., iridotomy).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Less common than open-angle glaucoma; more prevalent in Asian populations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hyperopia, advanced age, female gender, family history.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sudden and severe vision loss, optic nerve damage.