What causes open-angle glaucoma?
Primary open-angle glaucoma is caused by too much pressure within the eye. When fluid does not drain properly, the excess pressure can harm the optic nerve. Primary open-angle glaucoma does not cause vision loss or other symptoms until later stages. For that reason, it’s important to have regular eye exams.
Can glaucoma be treated?
Manage and Treat Glaucoma Glaucoma is treated with eye drops, oral medicine, or surgery (or a combination of treatments) to reduce pressure in the eye and prevent permanent vision loss. Take medicine as prescribed, and tell your eye care specialist about any side effects. You and your doctor are a team.
Which is worse open or closed-angle glaucoma?
It’s the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Closed-angle (or angle-closure) glaucoma makes up less than 20 percent of glaucoma cases in the United States. It’s usually more severe than open-angle glaucoma. Both conditions involve changes in the eye that prevent proper drainage of fluid.
Can you go blind with closed-angle glaucoma?
Acute angle-closure glaucoma Even with treatment, about 15 percent of people with glaucoma become blind in at least one eye within 20 years.
What is the best treatment for open-angle glaucoma?
Laser Treatment for Open-Angle Glaucoma A recent, randomized clinical trial demonstrated that laser therapy (the LiGHT trial), specifically selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), is an appropriate and effective first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma.
What is the best medication for open-angle glaucoma?
Latanoprost (Xalatan), a topical prostaglandin analog, is now the most frequently prescribed glaucoma medication in the world.
Which type of glaucoma is worse?
What are the signs that your glaucoma is getting worse?
Promptly go to an emergency room or an eye doctor’s (ophthalmologist’s) office if you experience some of the symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma, such as severe headache, eye pain and blurred vision.