Open angle glaucoma Subjectively there are no visual disturbances. The patient notices the symptoms of the creeping visual field limitation only in the final stage, as the changes develop very slowly over many years and the brain gets used to them. There is also no pain.
Special forms of the prim. Open-angle glaucoma Ocular hypertension (increased intraocular pressure, but no consequential damage) is a preliminary stage of open-angle glaucoma. The risk of optic nerve damage is significantly increased. Normal pressure glaucoma (glaucoma without on average increased pressure in the eye) shows the glaucoma-defining changes or damage to the eye, but here too the patient notices this only very late. The cause is assumed to be a particular sensitivity of the optic nerve.
Glaucoma forms
Acute Angular Block Glaucoma This form has rightly been given the name “glaucoma attack” because this event is experienced very dramatically by most patients. Symptoms such as very severe pain in the eye and in the respective half of the face occur and may even radiate into the head, teeth and abdomen. The eyeball is rock hard and usually reddened.
The pupil is rigid. Nausea and vomiting are further symptoms. There may also be cardiac rhythm disturbances due to nervous stimuli (vagus stimulus).
The patient’s vision is poor, often “as if through a wall of fog”, and in darkness may also show colored rings around light sources. Similar symptoms occur in intermittent angle block glaucoma, but in a less severe form. The chronic form occurs as a consequence of acute glaucoma attack if it has not been treated appropriately.
In congenital (congenital) glaucoma, watery and light-shy eyes are noticeable, often accompanied by a cramping of the eyelid. Excessively large eyes in newborns are also suspect. Secondary glaucoma can show glaucoma – typical symptoms as described above – or develop insidiously, depending on the underlying disease.
