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Eye Diseases > Glaucoma > Treatments

Types of Glaucoma

On this page:
Ocular hypertension
Primary open angle glaucoma
Secondary angle-closure glaucoma
Secondary open-angle glaucoma
Secondary open-angle glaucoma (Pigmentary)
Secondary open-angle glaucoma (Due to Trauma)
Narrow angle glaucoma
Low tension glaucoma
Symptoms of angle closure glaucoma
Heterchromic IRITIS
Congenital glaucoma
On other pages:
What is glaucoma?
Family history
Symptoms of glaucoma
Factors affecting interocular pressure
Treatments


OCULAR HYPERTENSION
Recent research suggests that many patients with slightly elevated eye pressures may never develop glaucoma. Because less than five percent of the population have pressures over 22, I feel that you should be watched carefully to make certain you do not develop glaucoma or other eye-related problems. Factors such as diabetes, thyroid disease, nearsightedness, and/or a positive family history for glaucoma necessitate caution and the need for more frequent eye examinations.

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PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA
It is completely normal for the human eye to have a certain expected level of pressure within. This eye pressure, called intraocular pressure, maintains the shape and integrity of the globe of the eye. Normal intraocular pressure is maintained by water-like fluid being produced in the eye and exiting the eye at a constant rate.

The diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma describes a condition in which the pressure in the eye builds up to an abnormally high level, as a result of a decreased outflow of this fluid. This blockage of filtration causes an increase in eye pressure. When eye pressure remains at higher than normal levels, it may damage the delicate fibers of the optic nerve, thereby causing permanent vision loss. The treatment of primary open angle glaucoma typically involves the use of eye drops that help decrease the production of this watery fluid inside the eye and as a result, the pressure is lowered.

A very important part of your medical management is regularly scheduled follow up appointments, at which time the intraocular pressure, the appearance of the optic nerve and the visual fields that measure vision loss will be monitored. With this condition, it is extremely important that you use your medication, that you not deviate from my prescribed treatment plan and that you keep your regularly scheduled monitoring appointments. If you have questions about your condition, your medications or your appointments, please do not hesitate to contact your eye care provider at your earliest convenience.

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SECONDARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA
It is completely normal for the human eye to have a certain expected level of pressure within. This intraocular pressure exists to maintain the shape and integrity of the globe of the eye. Normal intraocular pressure is maintained by water-like fluid produced in the eye and exiting the eye at a constant rate. Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of the eye increases to an abnormally high level, thereby causing damage to the fibers of the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.

More specifically, secondary open angle glaucoma develops as the result of another preexisting disease or condition that causes a decrease in drainage of the watery fluid. As a result of the decreased ability to drain the eye of this fluid while a constant production of the fluid is maintained, the pressure in the eye increases. This increased pressure damages the tissue of the optic nerve, causing loss of sight. Secondary open angle glaucoma is typically treated with topically applied eye drops and in some cases, surgery. It is extremely important that you use your medication, that you not deviate from my prescribed treatment plan and that you keep your regularly scheduled monitoring appointments. If you have questions about your condition, your medications or your appointments, please do not hesitate to contact your eye care provider at your earliest convenience.

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SECONDARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA (Pigmentary)
It is completely normal for the human eye to have a certain expected level of pressure within. This pressure, called intraocular pressure, maintains the shape and integrity of the globe of the eye. Normal intraocular pressure is maintained by a water-like fluid produced in the eye and exiting the eye at a constant rate. Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of the eye increases to an abnormally high level, thereby causing damage to the fibers of the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.

Secondary open angle glaucoma or pigmentary glaucoma, as it is sometimes called, is an increase of intraocular pressure as a result of pigment granules or debris blocking the outflow of this watery fluid from the eye. While these granules block the outflow of this aqueous or watery fluid, it is still being produced at a constant rate. This difference in production and outflow causes the increase in pressure that results in pigmentary glaucoma. The treatment for pigmentary glaucoma involves topical eyedrops and in some cases, surgery. With this condition, it is extremely important that you use your medication, that you not deviate from my prescribed treatment plan and that you keep your regularly scheduled monitoring appointments. If you have questions about your condition, your medications or your appointments, please do not hesitate to contact your eye care provider at your earliest convenience.

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SECONDARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA (Due to Trauma)
It is completely normal for the human eye to have a certain level of pressure within. This pressure, called intraocular pressure, maintains the shape and integrity of the globe of the eye. Normal intraocular pressure is maintained by water-like fluid being produced in the eye and exiting the eye at a constant rate. Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of the eye increases to an abnormally high level, thereby causing damage to the fibers of the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.

More specifically, secondary open angle glaucoma (secondary to eye trauma) or traumatic glaucoma as it is sometimes called, results from blunt trauma, severe abrasions or foreign bodies. These conditions may cause inflammation within the eye itself. This inflammation of the tissue tends to decrease the outflow of the watery fluid. The decrease in outflow coupled with continued production of this fluid, cause pressure in the eye to increase, thereby resulting in optic nerve damage and loss of vision.

Treatment for traumatic glaucoma focuses on reducing the inflammation of the tissues in the front portion of the eye. Treatment also includes decreasing the production of the watery fluid while inflammation of these tissues exists. The decrease in fluid production will thus reduce the pressure inside the eye. It is extremely important that you use your medication, that you not deviate from my prescribed treatment plan and that you keep your regularly scheduled monitoring appointments. If you have questions about your condition, your medications or your appointments, please do not hesitate to contact your eye care provider at your earliest convenience.

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Symptoms of Angle Closure Glaucoma
Since angle closure glaucoma can lead to a permanent loss of vision, it is very important that you are aware of the symptoms that may accompany this condition. These symptoms include; sudden onset of blurred vision, halos around lights, a red eye, a painful eye, nausea and vomiting. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your eye care provider and inform the staff of your symptoms and of my caution.

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NARROW ANGLE GLAUCOMA
Narrow angle glaucoma is a rare form of glaucoma. It is usually caused by a developmental abnormality of the eye. In most cases, patients with narrow angle glaucoma have a shorter eye than others. With a shorter eye, the iris (the colored part of the eye) is pushed up against the trabecular meshwork (the area of the eye where fluid inside the eye is filtered or drained out of the eye). With this compression, the fluid inside the eye cannot drain adequately, causing the pressure inside the eye to increase. When left untreated, high pressure may result in loss of vision. Treatment for this condition is directed at lowering the pressure

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LOW TENSION GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is a condition that generally occurs when intraocular pressure is elevated above a normal range. This increase in intraocular pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss. Low tension glaucoma, however, is a condition in which pressures are well within the normal levels, or in some cases, lower than normal. In spite of this, low pressure damage to the optic nerve continues and results in vision loss.

Having been diagnosed with low tension glaucoma. It's important you use your medication, not deviate from my prescribed treatment plan and keep your regularly scheduled monitoring appointments to evaluate the intraocular pressure, the appearance of the optic nerve and the visual fields, that monitor vision loss. If you have questions about your condition, your medications, or your appointments, please do not hesitate to contact your eye care provider at your earliest convenience.

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HETERCHROMIC IRITIS
Heterchromic iritis, commonly known as Fuch's iritis, is a type of inflammation in the iris (the colored portion of the eye). This condition is commonly associated with secondary glaucoma (glaucoma caused or influenced by something else) and the development of a cataract.

Treatment of iritis usually consists of using cortisone drops on a regular basis. However, the cortisone drops may cause both glaucoma and cataract. Patients with Fuch's iritis must be watched carefully to make certain their eye pressures, as well as many other eye-related factors, remain at a healthy level.

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SECONDARY GLAUCOMA
Secondary glaucoma refers to any condition of the eye in which the eye pressure is higher than normal. This is caused by some observable abnormality or blockage of the trabecular meshwork inside the eye. The trabecular meshwork is the important area or angle which filters or drains fluid out of the eye. If the angle is blocked, the pressure can rise causing glaucoma.

Secondary glaucoma can have many causes. Two common sources of this blockage include unwanted blood vessels that grow into the trabecular meshwork and pigment deposits originating from the colored part of the eye, the iris. In all cases, pressure inside the eye goes up because the fluid produced normally inside the eye finds its passage out of the eye partially blocked. Treatment consists of administering eye drops to reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye, thus decreasing the pressure inside the eye.

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CONGENITAL GLAUCOMA
Congenital glaucoma (also known as developmental glaucoma) is caused by the abnormal development of a child's eye fluid outflow system (where fluid is filtered from the eye). We see most patients with developmental glaucoma as infants or young children. However, developmental glaucoma sometimes may not be seen until young adulthood. There are many developmental abnormalities that may lead to congenital glaucoma. Children may be born with abnormalities of the surface of the eye (the cornea) or of the iris (the colored part of the eye) or with abnormal vessels inside the eye. Typically, infants with congenital glaucoma will have tearing, light sensitivity and they may squeeze their eyelids quite vigorously. On examination, it is not uncommon to observe that the child's eyes are somewhat larger than normal.

To control pressure, surgery is generally necessary in most cases of congenital glaucoma. Glaucoma eye drops, to lower the eye pressure, are generally needed in addition to the

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PSEUDOEXFOLLIATION (PXE)
Pseudoexfolliation of the lens capsule is a condition commonly, but not exclusively, seen in patients of Scandinavian descent. This interesting condition is characterized by finding dandruff-like deposits inside your eye. This material, called oxytalan, comes from the surface of the lens of your eye. In many patients, this accumulation of debris can clog the drainage angles of the eye, producing higher eye pressures.

Oxytalan is not only seen on the surface of the lens of the eye but it also coats the iris (the colored part of the eye) and the vitreous (the clear liquid jelly in the middle of the eye) as well as the trabecular meshwork (the area or angle where fluid exits from the eye). Fortunately, in most cases, special medication to reduce the amount of fluid produced is usually successful in lowering the pressure in an eye.

PIGMENT DISPERSION SYNDROME
If a doctors examination notes pigment deposits on the back surface of your cornea. The cornea is the clear outer window of the eye. These pigment deposits flake off of the iris, the colored portion of the eye, and attach to the back surface of the cornea, the endothelium.

When this condition is observed, extra caution is required. If pigment is observed, sometimes called Krukenberg's spindle, we can generally conclude that pigment has also made its way into the drainage angles of the eye. If the drainage angles clog with pigment, the drainage of eye fluid may become reduced, causing pigmentary glaucoma. Any person with this finding must at least be considered a glaucoma suspect. Careful observation and additional testing are necessary to monitor this condition.

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