Glaucoma FAQ

Glaucoma is a term referring to permanent damage to the optic nerve, affecting vision. Normally it starts in the peripheral vision, and over time worsens to affect the central vision. There are many different causes of glaucoma.

There are many underlying causes of glaucoma. In some cases, glaucoma occurs for no known reason and thought to be related to a genetic pre-disposition. In these cases, the pressure in the eye may be elevated or within the range.

There are also several conditions, both limited to the eye, and involving the whole body, which can increase the pressure in the eye and cause glaucoma and include:

• abnormalities affecting only the eye
• some associated conditions
• use of some medications such as steroid medications
• prior trauma to the eye can also cause glaucoma

In many cases, it is impossible to know that you have glaucoma without an ocular examination as the vision loss is gradual, and often goes unnoticed until very late in the disease process.

In some cases, the pressure may suddenly go up very high, causing pain and blurred vision, which can be the first signs of glaucoma.

No, there is no cure for glaucoma and it is a lifelong condition which will require management and treatment ongoing. However, it can be successfully and easily managed with the help of an ophthalmologist.

There are a number of treatment options that can be used to manage glaucoma and the one employed will depend on the type of glaucoma, its progression, and severity. These include:

• Medical therapy
• Laser Therapy
• Surgical therapy