Other terms
- Open-Label Trial
- Ophthalmology
- Optic Nerve
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteosarcoma
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Applications
- Overall Survival
- Palliative Care
- Palliative Chemotherapy
- Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Papillary Layer
- Parafollicular Cell (C cell)
Open-Angle Glaucoma
What is Open-Angle Glaucoma? Open-angle glaucoma is a subtype of glaucoma, a group of diseases that are characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure that is the primary cause of irreversible blindness. This rise in pressure affects the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Open-angle glaucoma is a common condition, affecting approximately 52.7 million people worldwide.
What Causes Open-Angle Glaucoma?
Open-angle glaucoma is primarily caused by the blockage of the trabecular meshwork, a network of tiny channels that allow fluid to drain out of the eye. The decreased drainage leads to increased intraocular pressure.
Risk factors for open-angle glaucoma:
- Advanced age
- Male gender
- Family history
- Ethnicity- African, Hispanic, or Asian descent
- History of trauma to the eyes
- History of ocular surgery
Signs and Symptoms of Open-Angle Glaucoma
Due to the insidious nature of the disease, open-angle glaucoma often has no early symptoms.
As the condition progresses, individuals may experience:
- Peripheral vision loss or tunnel vision
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty adjusting to low light conditions
- Seeing halos around lights
- Permanent vision loss.
Source: Schuster, A. K., Wagner, F. M., Pfeiffer, N., & Hoffmann, E. M. (2021). Risk factors for open-angle glaucoma and recommendations for glaucoma screening. Ophthalmologe, 118(S2), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00347-021-01378-5
