Glaucoma

Narrow-Angle Glaucoma

Narrow-angle glaucoma is different from open-angle glaucoma in that in narrow-angle glaucoma the eye pressure increases rapidly and is considered an emergency.  Because of this, it can cause blindness in three to five days.

Symptoms of this condition may be reddening or swelling of the eye, blurry vision, or pain.

This is a serious condition which can have harmful effects, so seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma.  It cannot be cured, but with early treatment, the amount of vision loss may be reduced.

The eye is filled with fluid which nourishes the eye.  Through the circulation process in the eye, this fluid is constantly cycled through the blood stream through a drainage canal in the eye.  With open-angle glaucoma, the drainage canal cannot process the passing fluid, causing pressure to build inside the eye.  This pressure pushes on the optic nerve, which can cause permanent vision loss.

Everyone over 35 years of age should be tested every two years for glaucoma.