Glaucoma – colloquially called glaucoma – (synonyms: Seizure glaucoma; Aphakic glaucoma; Eyeball hypertension; Ocular hypertension; Narrow-angle glaucoma; Ghost-cell glaucoma; Glaucoma; Glaucoma chronicum simplex (GCS); Intraocular pressure increase; ICD-10-GM H40.-: Glaucoma), refers to a heterogeneous group of ocular diseases that, if untreated, result in a characteristic optic neuropathy (disease of the optic nerve). It is the second most common cause of blindness in industrialized countries after diabetes mellitus (diabetic retinopathy).
Glaucoma can be congenital (congenital) or acquired.
Another classification distinguishes between primary (the increase in intraocular pressure is not due to another eye disease) and secondary (another eye disease alters intraocular pressure) glaucoma.
In addition, glaucomas can be further divided into open-angle and narrow-angle glaucomas. This distinction is based on the anatomical conditions through which the aqueous humor must flow.
Note: According to epidemiological studies, the risk of glaucoma increases by 12% with every single mmHg increase in intraocular pressure.
Possible classifications of glaucoma can be based on age of onset, primary (without other ocular disease) or secondary (due to other ocular disease) form or structure of the chamber angle. However, all forms have optic nerve degeneration as a common feature.
The following forms of glaucoma are described in detail under Glaucoma/Causes:
Primary congenital and infantile glaucomas.
- Primary congenital glaucoma.
- Infantile glaucoma and early juvenile glaucoma.
Secondary infantile glaucoma
Primary open-angle glaucoma
- Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG; here: high-tension glaucoma).
- Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG; here: Normal-tension glaucoma; obsolete: Low-pressure glaucoma; NDG; English NTG = normal tension glaucoma, about 17% of all forms of glaucoma) sauna infusion, stress or increased perception sensitive stimulus).
Secondary glaucoma
- Neovascularization glaucoma
- Pigment dispersion glaucoma:
- Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (synonym: PEX glaucoma).
- Cortisone glaucoma
- Phacolytic glaucoma
- Inflammatory glaucoma
- Traumatic glaucoma
- Glaucoma in developmental disorders and malformations.
Primary angle-closure glaucoma
Secondary angle-closure glaucoma.
For the pathogenesis (disease development) of these forms of glaucoma, see “Glaucoma/Causes”.
Frequency peak: The disease occurs more frequently with increasing age.
The prevalence (disease frequency) is 1-3 % (in Germany). About 10 % of persons over 40 years of age have an elevated intraocular pressure (> 21 mmHg, ocular hypertension).The prevalence of juvenile glaucoma (age: 2-17 years) is 1: 10,000. For patients suffering from the disease in young adulthood (18-39 years) (late juvenile glaucoma) the value increased more than tenfold to 1: 625.
Course and prognosis: If glaucoma is not treated adequately and in time, the damage to the optic nerve may lead to visual disturbances with reduced visual field and blindness. This damage is irreversible, but the progression of glaucoma can be stopped by pharmacotherapy or surgery. Early glaucoma screening is recommended after the age of 40.
A glaucoma screening exam is recommended beginning at age 40.
Comorbidity (concomitant disease): people who slept less than three or more than 10 hours per night were three times more likely to show optic nerve damage from glaucoma than subjects who slept seven hours per night.
