Glaucoma is a general term for a group of eye diseases that, if left untreated, will elevate pressure inside the eye, ultimately causing optic nerve damage. This damage creates irreversible loss of vision. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries the images we see from our eye to the brain. It is like an electric cable containing a huge number of wires.

Glaucoma earned its reputation as a "sneaky thief of sight" because many times there are no early visual symptoms alerting one to the presence of the disease. By the time someone determines their vision is changing, it is too late, and irreversible damage has already occurred. If caught early though, glaucoma can be successfully treated with medication. Regular preventative eye exams are important to help to detect this disease in its early stages.

What causes Glaucoma?
Clear liquid, called the aqueous humor, flows in and out of the eye. This liquid is not part of the tears on the outer surface of the eye. The flow of aqueous fluid would be similar to having a sink with the faucet turned on all the time. If the "drainpipe" gets clogged, water collects and pressure builds up. If the drainage area of the eye is blocked, the fluid pressure within the - Drushti Eye & Retina Centre eye may increase, which can damage the optic nerve.

There are many different types of Glaucoma, but there are two major types: open angle and closed angle.

• Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. Over 90% of adult glaucoma patients have this type. It occurs when the drainage angle of the eye becomes less efficient or "clogged" and pressure within the eye gradually increases. In open-angle glaucoma, the angle where the iris meets the cornea is as wide and open as it should be but it malfunctions. In this type of glaucoma, there are no early visual symptoms and if not detected in time, it can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerves.



• Closed-angle glaucoma or acute glaucoma is the type of glaucoma which occurs when the drainage canals of the eye become blocked suddenly causing eye pressure to build up rapidly.

In any type of glaucoma, raised pressure inside eyeball causes damage to fibers of the Optic Nerve. This results into loss of vision.
Glaucoma frequently affects more than one member of the family and manifests itself only after the age of 40. There are subsets of glaucoma which appear as congenital and are seen in infancy and as juvenile glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma can result from an eye injury, inflammation or tumor, intake of steroid drugs for long period or in advanced cases of cataract or diabetes.
Low tension or normal tension glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is genetically weak and even normal or low eye pressure is capable of causing damage.

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