glaucoma

Question 1

what is glaucoma

Answer 1

Primary open angle glaucoma is a debilitating condition which can lead to irreversible blindness if
not detected early and treated appropriately. Acute angle closure glaucoma has been covered
earlier. Unlike acute angle closure glaucoma, chronic open angle glaucoma is a silent disease
until it is at an advanced stage with irreversible visual field loss and tunnel vision.

Question 2

pathogenesis

Answer 2

Chronic glaucoma is most commonly open angle. The pathogenesis is thought to be trabecular
meshwork resistance to aqueous outflow which in turn leads to chronic raised intra-ocular
pressure and subsequent optic neuropathy. Although raised intra-ocular pressure is the main
sign, open angle glaucoma can be associated with normal pressure. This is termed normal
pressure glaucoma. Glaucomatous optic neuropathy results in a slow chronic loss of neuroretinal
nerve fibres on the optic nerve resulting in an enlarged cup

Question 3

mx

Answer 3

The mainstay of treatment is to lower intra-ocular pressure which can be in different modalities.