What is Glaucoma and what is the causes?

and what are the symptoms

Glaucoma is part of a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma (above 22mmHg). One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, while another person may have high eye pressure for years and yet never develop damage. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.

Glaucoma can be divided roughly into two main categories, "open angle" or chronic glaucoma and "closed angle" or acute glaucoma. Angle closure, acute glaucoma appears suddenly and often with painful side effects and so is usually diagnosed quickly, although damage and loss of vision can also occur very suddenly. Open angle, chronic glaucoma tends to progress more slowly and so the patient may not notice it until the disease has progressed quite significantly.

Glaucoma has been nicknamed the "sneak thief of sight" because the loss of visual field often occurs gradually over a long time and may only be recogized when it is already quite advanced. Once lost, this damaged visual field can never be recovered. Worldwide, it is the second leading cause of blindness. Glaucoma affects one in two hundred people aged fifty and younger, and one in ten over the age of eighty. If the condition is deteted early enough it is possible to arrest the development or slow the progression with medical and surgical means.

To begin with there may be no symptoms, so it is important to have regular eye checks to diagnose the disease. Patchy peripheral vision is sometimes noticed as the nerve cell layer is affected and there is often a loss of contrast sensitivity. A contrast sensitivity test should be performed along with a field test to measure visual loss. A field test has to be performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, but a contrast sensitivity test can be performed regularly at home. If any loss of contrast sensitivity is detected an eye specialist consultation is recommended. Symptoms may include pain in or behind the eye ball, headache and sensitivity to pressure


Hope It Helps
Kathryn.S

My sister in law and my mom's sister in law both have it heres what I found out about it.

Glaucoma is part of a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma (above 22mmHg). One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, while another person may have high eye pressure for years and yet never develop damage. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.

The rest of information can be found through the link below.
xo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucoma

Great question with great answers!

I was diagnosed with Glaucoma when I was 41, and five months after I was told I had Type II Diabetes. I got a double whammy.

Glaucoma is usually inherited. In my case, my great-grandfather had it and he died in 1933. I am the only person among relatives to get it.

Katheryn S gave a fantastic, comprehensive answer. I would like to add that if you do have Glaucoma, check if a medical school near you is interested in receiving your eyes after death. Wilmer Eye Bank, at Johns Hopkins Univ. will receive my eyes. This helps with research to find a cure for Glaucoma. I am treated with prescription eye drops and I haven't had any problems. : )

I hope you don't get it!

its an infection of the optical nerve fiber stops the fibre of the eye to transfer the images from the eye to the brain,it needs medicine or operation or laser to remove the infection so the patient will not have partial or hole blindness

search yahoo/google and type signs and symptoms of glaucoma. that's all.

Refer this page:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles...