The University Eye Center offers a closer look at glaucoma.

1. Glaucoma
Normal vision
Vision of person with glaucoma
The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1
million nerve fibers. It connects the retina to
the brain. (See diagram above.) The retina is
the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the
eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for
good vision.
Flow of fluid out of the eye
Schedule your appointment for a comprehensive eye exam at
(877)-570-5222 or visit www.universityeyecenter.org
33 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
What causes glaucoma?
Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve but the specific cause of
this damage is not fully understood. However, there are known risk
factors that are associated with developing the disease.
The following factors increase the risk of
glaucoma:
- High eye pressure
- Older age (> 40)
- African American descent
- A family history of glaucoma
The strongest associated factor for glaucoma development is high
eye pressure. However, some people’s optic nerves are more
sensitive to pressure changes and can develop the disease even
with having normal pressures. While other people’s nerves may
be less sensitive and may not develop the disease even with high
eye pressures.
A fluid that is created in the eyes is the source of your eye
pressure. This fluid nourishes the internal structures of the eye
and allows the eye to maintain its shape. In order to maintain
good eye health this fluid has to be continually replenished and
therefore is continually drained from the eye and replaced. If the
creation of the fluid is equal to the drainage, the eye will have a
normal pressure. In some cases the fluid may drain too slowly and
this leads to a build up of fluid and an increase in eye pressure.
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes damage to your optic
nerve. The optic nerve communicates between your eye and your
brain. There are several forms of glaucoma. The most common
form is open-angle glaucoma.
Fortunately, most forms of glaucoma progress slowly. The disease
has no symptoms in the early and even moderate stages. As the
disease progresses the first symptoms to develop are loss of your
side vision (peripheral vision), then blurred central vision and
potentially total blindness.
What is Glaucoma?

2. Glaucoma
33 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
How is glaucoma detected?
The first step in glaucoma detection is a comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor
(optometrist or ophthalmologist). Your doctor may do several tests to check for glaucoma including:
- Checking your eye pressure
- Dilating (widening with eye drops) the pupils of your eyes so that your eye doctor can
see the optic nerve
- Measuring you side vision (visual field test)
How is open-angle glaucoma treated?
Glaucoma is treated by decreasing your eye pressure. The damage caused by glaucoma cannot be
reversed, so the goal of treatment is to slow down or stop the progression of the disease. There are
three types of treatments for glaucoma; medicine, laser surgery and traditional surgery. While these
treatments may save remaining vision they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.
Medicine
Medicine in the form of eye drops is
the most common treatment for
glaucoma. There are a variety of
eye drops and they may be used
alone or in combination and may be
prescribed only once or multiple
times per day. Tablets can also be
used but less commonly and in
more advanced or poorly controlled
cases.
Laser Surgery
Laser surgery can be used as initial
treatment but it is often reserved as
a secondary treatment option. It may
also be used in combination with
medicine. Laser surgery works in
one of two ways; by increasing the
outflow of the fluid in the eye or by
decreasing fluid production.
Traditional Surgery
This is often used for glaucoma that
is poorly controlled with medicine or
with laser surgery. It works by
making new pathways for fluid to
drain from your eyes.
Schedule your appointment for a comprehensive eye exam at
(877)-570-5222 or visit www.universityeyecenter.org