Secondary Glaucoma CT

Glaucoma is an eye disorder associated with a dangerous buildup of intraocular pressure or IOP, which is simply internal eye pressure. This pressure can damage the optic nerve, impeding the transmission of visual information to the brain beginning peripherally and progressing centrally, ultimately causing tunnel vision. Most often, glaucoma causes no pain and produces no symptoms until noticeable vision loss occurs. If glaucoma progresses this far, only very aggressive medical and surgical treatment can possibly stop the progress to blindness. The exception to slow progress is acute angle-closure glaucoma, which may produce sudden blurry vision, halos around lights, intense eye pain, nausea and vomiting.

Secondary glaucoma refers to any form of glaucoma that can be traced to a distinguishable cause. Discovering the cause of glaucoma is essential to proper treatment; and proper treatment is essential to decrease the risk of vision loss.

There are two forms of secondary glaucoma: open angle (also called "chronic" glaucoma) or closed angle (also known as narrow angle glaucoma). The course of treatment prescribed is dependent upon the type of glaucoma that has been diagnosed, and the severity of the case. Most frequently, the first step will be to prescribe eye drops intended to decrease intraocular pressure. However, further treatment may be recommended based on the underlying cause of the glaucoma.

Causes of secondary glaucoma include tumor, inflammation, eye injury, medications such as steroids, exposure to toxins, retinal detachment, and advanced cases of diabetes or cataracts.

Traumatic glaucoma may occur immediately following an injury which has bruised the eye. In some cases, however, this type of glaucoma does not present itself until years later.

Inflammatory glaucoma typically presents with the occurrence of a disease process that causes inflammation of the uvea; the middle layer of the eye. Systemic disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory syndromes such as Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis, or infectious agents such as Herpes zoster or simplex are just some of the causes of this type of secondary glaucoma.

Cataracts may be the cause of phacomorphic or phacolytic glaucoma. In phacomorphic glaucoma, a cataract or other process causes the forward displacement of the lens of the eye. In phacolytic glaucoma, lenticular proteins leak through a mature or hyper mature cataract.

Neovascular glaucoma, associated with diabetes, is quite difficult to treat. With this type of glaucoma, pressure is caused by the abnormal formation of new blood vessels on the iris and over essential drainage channels.

Your ophthalmologist may treat secondary glaucoma with medication, lasers, or glaucoma surgery. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma or experience any of the symptoms mentioned, schedule a consultation with Dr. Gold to discuss the best treatment option.

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