This pressure can cause serious damage to the infected eyes over time. It can be helpful to understand the difference between the two primary types of glaucoma to better understand what is causing the issue and how to approach treatment. Open angle glaucoma occurs when the drainage canal of the eye is not completely blocked but only partially blocked. Think of open angle glaucoma like a clogged drain.
Eye fluid drainage is significantly reduced, which is what causes the buildup of fluid over time. Open angle glaucoma is painless and can easily fly under the radar if you do not get regular eye exams. With narrow angle glaucoma, the drainage canal of the eye is very narrow, which is the cause of the reduced drainage and fluid buildup.
This particular type of glaucoma is more common in far sighted individuals. Narrow angle glaucoma is more dangerous than open angle glaucoma because the drainage canal can easily become completely blocked, resulting in a very rapid buildup of pressure that can cause severe permanent damage if not immediately addressed.
Rest assured that millions of Americans live long and healthy lives with glaucoma. However, early identification and treatment are essential to preventing long-term, irreversible damage to the eye. Many patients are asymptomatic, meaning there are no noticeable symptoms upon diagnosis, which makes regular check-ups even more important.
However, some patients do experience dramatic and sudden symptoms. Knowing what symptoms to look for is key to proper identification:. If you feel that you have any of the above symptoms, please seek medical assistance immediately. There are several factors that can cause narrow angle glaucoma:. Regular checkups with your eye doctor can help identify these conditions. Though narrow angle glaucoma does not discriminate, certain demographics are at a higher risk for this condition:.
Regular checkups are essential to proper eye health and condition diagnosis. This is especially true because narrow angle and other types of glaucoma can be completely asymptomatic. Asian and Indian persons have much more angle-closure glaucoma than everyone else in the world for reasons that are not yet clear.
Family members of those with angle-closure glaucoma are 10 times more likely to develop it, so presently unknown genes must play some role. Currently, there is no definitive way to predict which angle-closure suspect will develop angle-closure disease but this is an area of active research. Recently, imaging instruments permit painless and inexpensive measurements of the eye structures that are crucial to developing angle-closure glaucoma.
These add to the exam done by the doctor and have begun to provide more data about who is most likely to get angle-closure glaucoma and therefore who should have laser iridotomy. Interestingly, it is not so much how crowded or narrow the passages are that is being linked to angle-closure glaucoma, but how the structures in the eye act in real time. How the iris changes in size and position is proving to explain more about this disease.
Further studies have linked swelling inside the back of the eye in its choroid to angle-closure glaucoma, as well. The standard exam findings and other personal factors of each angle-closure suspect are taken into account by the doctor in presenting the risk and benefit of preventive laser iridotomy. Article by Harry A. Quigley, MD. Qigley is the A. He has participated in glaucoma studies worldwide and published over peer-reviewed articles.
This article appeared in the January issue of Gleams. Was this helpful? Yes No. Watch this video for tips and advice from glaucoma specialist Terri Pickering, MD. Read more ». Among African Americans, men and women appear to be affected equally.
The best way to treat narrow-angle glaucoma is to keep your eye pressure at a safe, stable level. Some ways to achieve this include:.
Eye drops — Topical eye drops for glaucoma may be sufficient to treat some cases of narrow-angle glaucoma. Surgery — If signs of narrow-angle glaucoma are detected during an eye exam, your eye doctor may suggest glaucoma surgery to reduce your risk of angle-closure attacks.
Procedures called iridotomy and iridectomy are typically performed on narrow-angle glaucoma patients. During an iridotomy, surgeons use a laser to create a small hole in the peripheral iris to increase fluid drainage and decrease the risk of angle closure. An iridectomy involves removing a small piece of the iris to make better fluid flow in the eyes possible. The disease is easily detectable in a comprehensive eye exam and is treatable by a variety of surgical and non surgical options.
Knowledge is the first step in prevention. At the very least, you gain peace of mind. At most, you save your vision. Home Conditions.
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