Glaucoma is a disorder in which the circulation of aqueous humor, a fluid in the eye that is produced by the ciliary body, is blocked or restricted. In acute glaucoma, the drainage angle becomes blocked suddenly. Usually, only one eye is affected, but the other eye is highly susceptible to an attack of acute glaucoma at a later date. A more common type of glaucoma is primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic, slowly progressive optic-neuropathy characterized by atrophy and cupping of the optic nerve head and associated with characteristic patterns of visual field loss. Major risk factors are: IntraOcular Pressure, race, age, and family history. Other risk factors include myopia, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and retinal vein occlusion. Early detection and treatment are paramount. POAG is treated with eye drop medication, and in some cases surgery. Acute glaucoma is not a common condition. It tends to run in families, partly because it's redisposing factors, such as farsightedness, also run in families. If a fully developed attack of acute glaucoma is treated early, vision in the eye will return almost to normal. Because of the risks to sight, early treatment is essential. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Your Today's Vision optometrist continually checks for glaucoma of all types.

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