What is it?
It is increased pressure in your eye and leads to damage of the optic nerve (the nerve then sends signal from the eye to the brain- the brain then creates a ‘sense of vision’ and sends signal back to the eye.
- Ones eyes are filled with a watery like liquid called aqueous humour. This liquid is draining through eye tubes (trabecular meshwork) constantly to control your eye pressure and thus helps to shape your eyes.
- If these tubes get slightly blocked via injury or swollen red blood vessels, the aqueous humour cannot drain properly causing an increase in pressure in the eye then causing damage to nerves in the eye leading to blindness.
Types of glaucoma:
| Glaucoma |
Symptom |
| Chronic glaucoma (common) |
Develop slowly with age, loose outer vision of eye working towards centre of eye. |
| Acute glaucoma |
Symptoms are intense, come and go for a few hours. Each time vision is damaged bit by bit. |
| Developmental glaucoma (congenital glaucoma) |
Symptoms are like above occurs with young children. |
| Secondary glaucoma |
When an eye condition or injury causes glaucoma e.g. inflamed eye |
- Ocular hypertension (eye pressure) is above 21mmHg without disc or field changes, and is often a risk factor for glaucoma.
- Patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of glaucoma as microvascular changes associated with diabetes are thought to lead to impaired microcirculation, which contributes to greater susceptibility of the optic nerve to damage.
- Patients with myopia are thought to have weaker scleral support at the optic nerve and lead to optic nerve to damage.
The eye in glaucoma
Aqueous humour is produced by the cilary body and secreted in the posterior chamber, flowing in to the anterior chamber before being drained via the trabecular meshwork and uveoscler.
Clinical Pharmacist, CP, May 2015, Vol 7, No 4;7(4):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2015.20068459
Closed angle glaucoma can cause very high eye pressure – emergency treatment is required
Diagnosis tests
- Optic nerve assessment
- Visual field measurement
- CCT
- Peripheral anterior chamber configuration
- Depth assessment
- Gonioscopy
Cause
Syndromes
Medication
Vitamins, herbals and minerals
Symptoms
(One normally has no symptoms, hence having regular eye tests are important)
Acute Glaucoma (acute angle closure glaucoma)
- Intense pain?
- Redness of eye?
- Headache?
- Tender around eye?
- Misty vision, blurred or foggy?
- See ‘rainbow like’ rings?
- Nausea and vomiting?
Open Angle Glaucoma
- Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
- Tender around eye?
- Misty vision, blurred or foggy?
- Loosing outer vision of eye?
Developmental Glaucoma (congenital glaucoma)
- One has large eyes?
- Sensitive to light?
- Cloudy appearance in eyes?
- Jerk movement of eyes?
- Eyes constantly watering?
- Squinting eyes causing one of the eyes to turn inwards, outwards or upwards, while other eye looks forward?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Medical Emergency Condition
Please beware of:
This condition has been associated with:
Eye Tests
- One should have routine eye tests at least every two years but if one has concerns one should book an eye test at any point.
- Persons over 40 years should have eye test at least every 2 years.
Driving Authority
Exercise your eyes
Focus change
This exercise works by challenging your focus. It should be done from a seated position.
- Hold your pointer finger a few inches away from your eye.
- Focus on your finger.
- Slowly move your finger away from your face, holding your focus.
- Look away for a moment, into the distance.
- Focus on your outstretched finger and slowly bring it back toward your eye.
- Look away and focus on something in the distance.
- Repeat three times.
Near and far focus
- This is another focus exercise.
- As with the previous one, it should be done from a seated position.
- Hold your thumb about 10 inches from your face and focus on it for 15 seconds.
- Find an object roughly 10 to 20 feet away, and focus on it for 15 seconds.
- Return your focus to your thumb.
- Repeat five times.
Figure eight
- This exercise should be done from a seated position as well.
- Pick a point on the floor about 10 feet in front of you and focus on it.
- Trace an imaginary figure eight with your eyes.
- Keep tracing for 30 seconds, then switch directions.
20-20-20 rule
- Eye strain is a real problem for a lot of people. Human eyes are not supposed to be glued to a single object for extended periods of time. If you work at a computer all day, the 20-20-20 rule may help prevent digital eye strain.
- To implement this rule, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Vision therapy
- Vision therapy may include eye exercises, but only as part of a more specialised treatment program done under the supervision of an eye doctor, optometrist, or ophthalmologist.
- The goal of vision therapy can be to strengthen the eye muscles.
- It also can help to retrain poor visual behaviour, or help with eye tracking issues.
Healthline : Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O.D. — Written by Corinne O’Keefe Osborn — Updated on September 29, 2018
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist/Optician) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Glaucoma in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- NHS
Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).
- Medscape
Latest medical news and expert commentary in your specialty as well as disease information.
- Pharmaceutical Journal
The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.
- Healthline
Medical Information and health advice you can trust
- ChatGPT
Get instant answers, find creative inspiration, and learn something new.
- Medical News Today
Medical news and health news headlines posted throughout the day, every day.
- WebMD
Better Information. Better Health.
- Cleveland Clinic
Pushing the Standards of care.
- Mayo Clinic
No.1 Hospital in the Nation (America)
- Drugs.com
Know more. Be sure.
- National Organisation of Rare Diseases
NORD is dedicated to supporting education, elevating care, advancing research, and driving policy for rare diseases.
- Verywell Health
Know more. Fell better.
- Fit for Travel
Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad.
- DR Axe
Health and fitness news. Recipes, Natural Remedies
Diet, Exercise and Body Manipulations
Exercise your eyes
Focus change
This exercise works by challenging your focus. It should be done from a seated position.
- Hold your pointer finger a few inches away from your eye.
- Focus on your finger.
- Slowly move your finger away from your face, holding your focus.
- Look away for a moment, into the distance.
- Focus on your outstretched finger and slowly bring it back toward your eye.
- Look away and focus on something in the distance.
- Repeat three times.
Near and far focus
- This is another focus exercise.
- As with the previous one, it should be done from a seated position.
- Hold your thumb about 10 inches from your face and focus on it for 15 seconds.
- Find an object roughly 10 to 20 feet away, and focus on it for 15 seconds.
- Return your focus to your thumb.
- Repeat five times.
Figure eight
- This exercise should be done from a seated position as well.
- Pick a point on the floor about 10 feet in front of you and focus on it.
- Trace an imaginary figure eight with your eyes.
- Keep tracing for 30 seconds, then switch directions.
20-20-20 rule
- Eye strain is a real problem for a lot of people. Human eyes are not supposed to be glued to a single object for extended periods of time. If you work at a computer all day, the 20-20-20 rule may help prevent digital eye strain.
- To implement this rule, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Vision therapy
- Vision therapy may include eye exercises, but only as part of a more specialised treatment program done under the supervision of an eye doctor, optometrist, or ophthalmologist.
- The goal of vision therapy can be to strengthen the eye muscles.
- It also can help to retrain poor visual behaviour, or help with eye tracking issues.
Healthline : Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O.D. — Written by Corinne O’Keefe Osborn — Updated on September 29, 2018
