lee eye institute

What is Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?
By: Dr. Neah Patel, MD, FACS
board certified & fellowship trained
ophthalmologist in oculoplastic surgery

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve, the main nerve to the eye. Glaucoma is a
slow progressive atrophy of the optic nerve. Atrophy of the nerve can cause a loss of peripheral
vision. It is more likely to occur in people that have family members with glaucoma, people
with high eye pressures, and in the elderly. Most often glaucoma can be treated with drops,
however in certain situations lasers and surgery may be required. There are different types of
glaucoma and an ophthalmologist should evaluate for this condition. Angle closure is a type of
glaucoma in which the drainage system to the eye is blocked by certain structures in the eye
causing the eye pressure to go up suddenly and cause pain, headaches and halos in vision.
The other type of glaucoma is called open angle glaucoma and this condition is painless,
however atrophy of the nerve still occurs. To identify if either type of glaucoma exists, an
ophthalmologist should evaluate patients once a year to check eye pressures and to evaluate
the optic nerve.