Glaucoma FAQ

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that causes damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye that can cause permanent loss of vision and potential blindness.

Certain risk factors can increase the chances of developing glaucoma and these can include:

• High intraocular (eye) pressure IOP
• Being over age of 50
• Certain Ethnic backgrounds have a higher risk
• Family history
• Medical Conditions such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, SCA
• Thin Corneas
• Eye surgery
• Prolonged use of steroid medication
• Eye Injury
• Being extremely near or far sighted

Whilst anyone can develop glaucoma there are certain risk factors that increase the chances, these include:

• High intraocular (eye) pressure IOP
• Being over age of 50
• Certain Ethnic backgrounds have a higher risk
• Family history
• Medical Conditions such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, SCA
• Thin Corneas
• Eye surgery
• Prolonged use of steroid medication
• Eye Injury
• Being extremely near or far sighted

Glaucoma is a disease that may not be apparent. Doctors may deem a patient “glaucoma suspect” if they believe the patient is showing early signs of glaucoma however there is yet to be concrete evidence to make a definitive diagnosis.

Depending on the type or cause of glaucoma it is a slow progressive disease that in the early stages have no apparent or obvious symptoms. Often vision loss is gradual and can go unnoticed until very late in the disease process. In some cases, the pressure may suddenly go up very high, causing pain and blurred vision, which can be the first signs of glaucoma.

• PRIMARY
• POAG – Primary open angle glaucoma
• AACG – Acute Angle Closure
• NTG – Normal Tension Glaucoma
• Juvenile – Childhood Glaucoma
• SECONDARY
• PDS – Pigment Dispersion
• PXF – Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome
• Neovascular (Rubeotic) Glaucoma
• Mixed Mechanism Glaucoma
• Traumatic Glaucoma
• Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome
• Steroid Induced Glaucoma
• Uveitic Glaucoma