Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension Flashcards
Glaucoma definition:
• Progressive optic neuropathy
• and associated characteristic visual field loss
• lOP only known modifiable risk factor and is used when classifying glaucon
• However, low IOP does not mean that glaucoma is not present!
Glaucoma Aetiology: Theories
• Imbalance between aqueous production + drainage leads to increase IOP
• Increased IOP causes mechanical dkg to retinal nerve fibres; laminar cribosa; mechanical theory
• However people diagnosed with normal tension glaucoma
• Compression of blood vessels in optic nerve lead to ischaemia, can occur in absence of high pressure in predisposed individuals - Ischaemia theory
Classification of Glaucoma:
• Open or Closed Angle
• Normal vs High IOP - NTG vS POAG VS OHT
• Primary and Secondary Glaucoma
- Primary - Glaucoma with absence of other disease processes
- Secondary - Glaucoma secondarily to another disease process / mechanism causing : outflow to be impeded
- e.g Pseudoexfoliation or Pigment Dispersion syndrome
Congenital or Juvenile
• Congenital - Primary Glaucoma
• Juvenile - Secondary Glaucoma in childhood
Classification of Glaucoma: Types
• POAG - Primary open angle glaucoma
• PCAG - Primary closed angle glaucoma
• NTG - Normal tension glaucoma
• OHT - Ocular hypertension
• Secondary OAG
• Secondary CAG
Describe IOP measurements linked to Glaucoma: OHT, POAG, NTG, PCAG
• Repeatable measurement of IOP >21mmg defined as High IOP
• Ocular Hypertension (OHT) is IOP >21mmHg when no other signs of glaucoma are present
• In the presence of other glaucomatous signs e.g. ONH changes and/or characteristic visual field loss is defined as POAG
• POAG pressure generally between 21-35mmHg
• ONH changes and/or changes in the visual field with repeatable IOP <21mmHg defined as NTG
• PCAG pressure can be 50-100mmg during an acute attack
Describe Ocular Hypertension:
Definition for the NICE glaucoma guideline
- “Consistently or recurrently elevated IOP (greater than 21 mmHg) in the absence of clinical evidence of optic nerve damage or visual field defect.”
3 Causes of SOAG:
• Pre-trabecular
- A membrane covers the trabeculum blocking drainage E.g. - fibrovascular tissue causing neovascular glaucoma
• Trabecular
- “Clogging up” of the trabeculum, Eg. - pigment particles causing pigmentary glaucoma
- Pseudoexfoliative material causing pseudoexfoliative glaucoma
• Post-trabecular
- Aqueous outflow is impaired due to elevated episcleral venous pressure, E.g. Sturge Weber Syndrome
Closed angle mechanisms:
Pupillary block and non-pupillary block mechanisms - often a mixture of both mechanisms together
Two types of SCAG:
• With pupil block
- Seclusio Pupillae 360 degree posterior synechaie, usually as a result of recurrent uveitis
- E.g. uveitic glaucoma
• Without pupil block
- Causes of peripheral anterior synechaie (abnormal adhesion between the iris and angle)
- E.g. uveitic or traumatic glaucoma
Glaucoma: Symptoms
• Most often none!
• So is your History and symptoms useful when diagnosing glaucoma?
- Yes!
- Advanced cases patients may report being more clumsy, knocking things over, tripping, falling
- History and symptoms will help assess px risk of developing glaucoma
• Angle closure - headache (often around the eye/temporal), photophobia,
nausea
POAG - Risk factors
• Age (over 40 at risk, increases with age)
• Ethnicity - (African descent 4x more likely)
• Family history - 1st degree relative, 3x
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Myopia >6D
NTG - Risk Factors
• Age
• Family History
• Ethnicity - Japanese 4-12x increased risk of
•Raynauds Phenomenon
•Migraine?
CAG - Risks
• Age
• Family History
• Ethnicity - South East Asian
• Hyperopia >2D
Hx and Sx for acute/chronic CAG:
• If Acute
- Poor VA in affected eye
- Haloes around lights
- Ocular/periocular headache
- Gl symptoms including abdominal pain
• If Chronic
- Symptoms more subtle
- Mildly reduced VA intermittently
- Haloes around lights - especially in the evening when watching TV in a darkened
room
- NONE!
Common causes of secondary Glaucoma:
• Uveitis
• Steroid Induced Glaucoma
• Pigment Dispersion syndrome
• Pseudoexfoliation
How is the anterior chamber angle investigated:
• Van herricks or gonsioscopy
• Referral if van herricks grade 2, due to risk of ACAG; but narrow angle doesn’t mean they definitely have CAG