What are the types of glaucoma?

There are two main types of glaucoma.

    * Open-angle glaucoma or wide-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly through the drain. This is famous as the trabecular meshwork.

    * Angle-closure glaucoma or acute or chronic closed-angle or narrow-angle glaucoma is a less common type of glaucoma, but can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye with poor drainage. This is because the angle between the iris and the cornea, where a drainage channel for the eye is located, is too narrow. On the other hand, the pupil could open too wide, narrowing the angle and blocking the flow of the fluid through that channel.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

For most people, there are usually few or no symptoms of glaucoma, but the first sign is often the loss of peripheral or side vision. This can go unnoticed until late in the disease. Detecting glaucoma early is one reason you should have a complete exam with an eye specialist every one to two years because intraocular pressure can rise to severe levels. In these cases, sudden eye pain, headache, blurred vision, or the appearance of halos around lights may occur as the main symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical care. You should especially watch for symptoms such as seeing halos around lights, narrowing of vision, vision loss, and redness in the eye, or hazy-looking eyes. If you experience nausea, vomiting, or pain in the eye you should also see the doctor.

How to treat glaucoma

Glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser, or even microsurgery.

    * Eye drops for glaucoma either reduce the formation of fluid in the front of the eye or increase its outflow. Side effects of glaucoma drops may include allergy, redness of the eyes, brief stinging, or visual blurring. You could also experience irritated eyes. Some glaucoma medications may affect the heart and lungs, so be sure to tell your doctor about any glaucoma medication you are currently taking or are allergic to.

    * Laser surgery for glaucoma slightly increases the outflow of the fluid from the eye in open-angle glaucoma. It could also eliminate fluid blockage in angle-closure glaucoma. Types of laser surgery for glaucoma include trabeculoplasty, in which a laser pulls open the trabecular-meshwork drainage area. Another method is iridotomy, in which a tiny hole in the iris allows the fluid to flow more freely. Your doctor could also choose cyclophotocoagulation, in which a laser beam treats areas of the ciliary body, reducing the production of fluid.

    * Microsurgery for glaucoma is a procedure where a new channel is created to drain the fluid, thereby reducing intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma. Sometimes this form of glaucoma surgery fails and the doctor must repeat it. Other potential complications of glaucoma microsurgery are a temporary or permanent loss of vision, as well as bleeding or infection.

    * The best treatment for open-angle glaucoma is a combination of eye drops, laser trabeculoplasty, and microsurgery. Traditionally in the U.S., medications are the first choice, but there is increasing evidence that some people with glaucoma may respond better with early laser surgery or microsurgery. However, you should talk to your doctor to find out which glaucoma treatment is right for you. Although you cannot prevent glaucoma, if your doctor diagnoses and treats you early, he could be able to control the disease.