Glaucoma Types & Symptoms
The ophthalmologists at Fishman & Sheridan eyeCare Specialists in Leesburg, Eustis, and Clermont, FL, have advanced technology to diagnose and treat even rare types of glaucoma. The more common types of glaucoma include:
Open-Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common form of glaucoma and occurs when the eye's drainage canals become clogged over time, much like clogged plumbing that won't allow water to flow through. Without the ability to drain, the intraocular pressure rises as fluid in the eye builds up. If not treated, open-angle glaucoma can cause a gradual loss of vision.
Symptoms
Most people have no early symptoms. The first sign may be when you notice a loss of side vision as your visual field narrows. However, this happens so slowly, people often do not notice the change. Regular eye exams can catch glaucoma and visual field losses at their earliest stages to help halt progression of the disease and additional vision loss.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma is also called acute angle glaucoma and is less common. It occurs when drainage canals are suddenly blocked or covered over, similar to a sink in which the drain is closed. When this happens, the intraocular pressure can quickly increase in the eye and damage vision. If not treated promptly, you could lose your sight completely.
Symptoms
- Eye pain
- Severe headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Very blurry or hazy vision
- Seeing rainbows or halos
- Redness in the eye
- Pupils of different sizes
- Sudden loss of sight
Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Sometimes glaucoma damages the optic nerve without any rise in eye pressure. This is called low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma. While researchers are unsure what causes normal-tension glaucoma, they suspect it may include abnormalities in the blood flow to the optic nerve and structural weakness of the optic nerve tissue.
Symptoms
Like open-angle glaucoma, in the early stages, most people don't have symptoms and don't notice the gradual decline in their vision. For this reason, regular eye examinations are essential for detecting and treating the disease early.