OPHTHALMOLOGY

Q: What is glaucoma?

A: Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries information from the eye to the brain. When this nerve is damaged, you can slowly lose parts of your vision, usually peripheral vision first. If glaucoma is not treated, vision loss may get progressively worse and can lead to blindness.

Glaucoma occurs when the pressure in your eye (IOP) increases. This can happen when the eye fluid in the front part of the eye is not circulating or draining properly. This fluid, the aqueous humor, normally flows out of the eye through a meshlike channel or drainage system called the trabecular meshwork. If this channel becomes blocked, fluid builds up, adversely affecting the IOP, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to glaucoma.

The two main types of glaucoma are Open-angle and Closed-angle. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common. In this type, the eye fluid does not flow properly through the drainage system causing high IOP. Optic nerve damage in this type occurs over time and usually starts with peripheral vision loss. Closedangle glaucoma is less common. In this type, the colored part of the eye (iris) blocks off the drainage system causing a rapid buildup of eye pressure that can cause irreversible optic nerve damage in a short time.

While glaucoma cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed with eye drops and/or special surgeries so that both the IOP and the flow of eye fluid are at appropriate levels. Finding and treating glaucoma early is important to prevent blindness. Gregory Eippert, MD 8140 Norton Parkway Mentor, OH 44060

440-255-1115 www.opivision.com