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| While there are many types of glaucoma, most can be divided into two categories: (OAG) and narrow-angle glaucoma (NAG).
Open-angle glaucoma with no defined cause is known as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
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Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common form of glaucoma, affecting more than three million in America alone. POAG occurs when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time. The inner eye pressure (also called intraocular pressure or IOP) rises because the correct
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amount of fluid cannot drain out of the eye. With open angle glaucoma, the entrances to the drainage canals are clear and should be working correctly. The clogging problem occurs inside the drainage canals, like the clogging that can occur inside the pipe below the drain in a sink.
Most people have no symptoms and no early warning signs. If open angle glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause a gradual loss of vision. This type of glaucoma develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. It is treatable with medications, laser or surgery as deemed necessary by your ophthalmologist.
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| NAG occurs when the drain is functioning properly but is being blocked by another structure of the eye called the iris. The angle can be evaluated with a special three-mirrored lens called a gonio lens, (pictured at right) that your ophthalmologist places on your eye to evaluate the angle. |
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| NAG puts the person at risk for an acute and very symptomatic form of glaucoma in which the pressure goes very high in a short time and causes redness, pain, and blurry vision. This must be treated quickly, or blindness may result within hours to days of the attack. It is usually easily treated or prevented with a laser procedure. |
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Angle Closure Glaucoma
With acute angle closure glaucoma, the outer edge of the iris bunches up over the drainage canals.This can happen when the pupil enlarges too much or too quickly, such as when entering a dark room.
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Symptoms of angle closure glaucoma may include severe headaches (usually over the brow, like an "ice cream headache" only much worse), eye pain, nausea, rainbows around lights at night, and very blurred vision.
The cornea will become cloudy and the eye becomes red, as pictured right.
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Prevention or treatment of acute angle closure glaucoma usually involves surgery to remove a small portion of the outer edge of the iris. This helps unblock the drainage canals so that the extra fluid can drain. Usually surgery is successful and long lasting. However, you should still receive regular check-ups.
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| If glaucoma is detected and treated, damage to the optic nerve can be slowed or even stopped. But it cannot be reversed. If you have glaucoma and want to keep your sight for life then invest in your future today: take prescribed drops as directed by your doctor and be examined regularly. |
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