What Are the Types of Glaucoma?
The following are the most common types of glaucoma in the United States:
The most common type of glaucoma, this disease happens when the aqueous humor does not drain out of the trabecular meshwork as well as it should. The result is a gradual buildup of fluid that eventually presses on the optic nerve.
Because open-angle glaucoma often has no symptoms early on until peripheral vision is lost (like looking through a tunnel), it’s called the ‘silent thief of sight.’
This type of glaucoma happens when the iris is pressed too close to the drainage angle such that the trabecular meshwork is not exposed. This clogging causes a backup of aqueous humor, and consequently a quick rise in IOP.
Symptoms include headache, severe forehead or eye pain, sudden blurry vision, nausea, and vomiting. This acute attack needs emergency medical attention to prevent blindness.
This disease happens even without an increase in intraocular pressure. People with normal IOP may sustain damage to their optic nerve because of the optic nerve’s unusual sensitivity to any form of pressure.