What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by elevated intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve. It is characterized by impaired circulation of aqueous humor within the eye, leading to a gradual increase in intraocular pressure. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve, resulting in progressive narrowing of the visual field and potentially leading to irreversible vision loss or even total blindness. Glaucoma is usually categorized into two main types: open-angle and closed-angle. 1. **Open-angle glaucoma**: Also known as chronic simple glaucoma, this type progresses slowly. The increase in intraocular pressure often goes unnoticed because visual field loss is typically gradual, and patients generally experience no symptoms during the early stages. 2. **Closed-angle glaucoma**: This type develops suddenly and is often accompanied by eye pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting. It occurs when the space between the iris and lens suddenly narrows, preventing aqueous humor from draining properly. If symptoms such as eye pain, seeing rainbow-colored halos around lights, or vision loss occur, immediate medical attention should be sought.