Glaucoma

• Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve often caused by an abnormally high pressure in the eye.
• Elevated eye pressure is due to a buildup of aqueous humor that flows throughout the inside of the eye. This internal fluid normally drains out through a tissue called the trabecular meshwork at the angle where the iris and cornea meet.
• Open angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma.
• angle-closure glaucoma is a condition where the angle of the eye is blocked by aqueous humor
• angle-closure glaucoma may occur suddenly (acute angle-closure glaucoma) or gradually (chronic angle-closure glaucoma)
• Normal-Tension Glaucoma may have something to do with a sensitive optic nerve.
• In Pigmentary Glaucoma, Pigment granules from the iris build up in the drainage channels, slowing or blocking fluid exiting the eye.
• Measuring intraocular pressure

  (tonometry)
• Checking for areas of vision loss

  (visual field test)
• Measuring corneal thickness 


  (pachymetry)
• Inspecting the drainage angle

  (gonioscopy)
• Glaucoma is treated by lowering the intraocular pressure.
• Prostaglandins


  increase the outflow of aqueous humor, thereby reducing the eye pressure
• Beta blockers reduce the production of fluid in the eyes, thereby lowering the IO
• Alpha-adrenergic agonists reduce the production of aqueous humor and increase outflow of the fluid in your eye
• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

  reduce the production of fluid in your eye
• Rho kinase inhibitor lowers eye pressure by suppressing the rho kinase enzymes responsible for fluid increase
• Miotic or cholinergic agents increase the outflow of fluid from your eye