Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma: Types list
The list of types of Glaucoma mentioned in various sources includes:
Curable Types of Glaucoma:
Rare Types of Glaucoma:
Types discussion:
Facts About Glaucoma: NEI (Excerpt)
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, affects
about 3 million Americans--half of whom don't know they have it. It
has no symptoms at first. But over the years it can steal your
sight. With early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against
serious vision loss and blindness. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Glaucoma: NEI)
Facts About Glaucoma: NEI (Excerpt)
Although open-angle glaucoma is the most common form, some people
have other forms of the disease.
In low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma, optic nerve
damage and narrowed side vision occur unexpectedly in people with
normal eye pressure. People with this form of the disease have the
same types of treatment as open-angle glaucoma.
In closed-angle glaucoma, the fluid at the front of the
eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye because the angle gets
blocked by part of the iris. People with this type of glaucoma have
a sudden increase in pressure. Symptoms include severe pain and
nausea as well as redness of the eye and blurred vision. This is
a medical emergency. The patient needs immediate treatment to
improve the flow of fluid. Without treatment, the eye can become
blind in as little as one or two days. Usually, prompt laser surgery
can clear the blockage and protect sight.
In congenital glaucoma, children are born with defects in
the angle of the eye that slow the normal drainage of fluid.
Children with this problem usually have obvious symptoms such as
cloudy eyes, sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing. Surgery is
usually the suggested treatment, because medicines may have unknown
effects in infants and be difficult to give to them. The surgery is
safe and effective. If surgery is done promptly, these children
usually have an excellent chance of having good vision.
Secondary glaucomas can develop as a complication of other
medical conditions. They are sometimes associated with eye surgery
or advanced cataracts, eye injuries, certain eye tumors, or uveitis
(eye inflammation). One type, known as pigmentary glaucoma, occurs
when pigment from the iris flakes off and blocks the meshwork,
slowing fluid drainage. A severe form, called neovascular glaucoma,
is linked to diabetes. Also, corticosteroid drugs—used to treat eye
inflammations and other diseases--can trigger glaucoma in a few
people. Treatment is with medicines, laser surgery, or conventional
surgery. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Glaucoma: NEI)
Glaucoma: Rare Types
Rare types of medical conditions and diseases in related medical categories:
Glaucoma: Related Disease Topics
More general medical disease topics related to Glaucoma include:
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