What is glaucoma, does it hurt and what are the symptoms, can anyone advise. Is it hereditary.?

Question

Do the eyes run all the time with the condition, are the eyes kind of dry, or is there no difference just raised pressure behind the eyes.

Answer 1

It's an eye problem and can eventually lead to blindness. It can be hereditary. In the early stages there are no symptoms. This is why you should have your eyes tested every 2 years even if you don't need glasses.

Answer 2

There's more than one form of glaucoma...

I would love to be able to tell you exactly what it is.
Fifteen years ago we knew, but now we've made progress and we're not so sure.

The most common form of glaucoma, 90% of cases, does not hurt and has no significant or reliable symptoms until it is quite advanced. It can only be found early by testing for it, which is why routine checks are important for people over 40.
The older classic definition of glaucoma might be "raised pressure inside the eye, leading to nerve damage,and blindness if untreated."
It is now known that some people can develop glaucoma *without* raised pressure, and some people with noticably raised pressures do not go on to develop glaucoma.
As the "pressure test" alone has become less useful, increasing emphasis is being placed on the visual fields and the appearance of the optic nerve, seen through the pupil.

Rarer glaucomas: Acute glaucoma comes on suddenly and painfully, with distinctive signs and symptoms.
A painful eye with blurry vision needs seeing within hours...
(it's not always glaucoma: acute iritis also produces similar symptoms). Sometimes there have been minor "warning" attacks especially in the early hours of the morning.
Acute glaucoma usually affects an older age group than chronic simple glaucoma, but this is not to be relied upon.
Both these types show a definite hereditary factors, but not simple inheritance.

It is possible to be born with glaucoma, and there is a very rare form affecting children.
Glaucoma also occurs secondary to other eye conditions and injuries.

The latest curious link, being investigated, is between eye nerve chages in glaucoma and brain nerve changes in Alzheimer's disease. The significance of this is not yet fully understood.

Optometrist, retired.

Answer 3

Glaucoma is a build up of the fluid pressure within the eye. It can get a bit painful and one of the first symptoms I noticed were rainbow coloured haloes round bright lights and, at night when driving, I could not see too well to the left and therefore had a tendency to drive towards the centre of the road! I live in the UK and therefore drive on the left.
I had laser treatment which, in effect, bores fresh drainage holes in the back of the eye and that worked well for a while, but I am now using XALATAN eye drops every night in each eye which control the condition perfectly.
I still dislike very bright lights and wear anti-glare lenses in my glasses. I can now see perfectly to the left, by the way.
It is nothing to do with blocked tear ducts whatsoever.
It is hereditary, my mother had it as well and in the UK, if there is a family history of the condition, I believe one can get free eye tests for life. There is a link between glaucoma and diabetes. My mother who had glaucoma was type 2 diabetic. My brother who is type 1 diabetic does not have the condition.

Answer 4

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RE:
What is glaucoma, does it hurt and what are the symptoms, can anyone advise. Is it hereditary.?

Answer 5

I don't think it hurts, but the symptoms are raised pressure in the eyes, which can damage the optic nerve if not treated. The field of vision gradually becomes affected, meaning you cannot see around the edges of your vision. This gradually gets worse over time. In severe cases you may only have a very small field of vision, or even go blind. It is treatable with eye drops to reduce the pressure, or surgery if that doesn't work. It is hereditary, if you have family members with this, yo should have regular check ups, I have to go every 6 months.

Answer 6

Is Glaucoma Painful

Answer 7

There's a few different types so here they all are: Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, has no symptoms at first. The pressure in the eye builds up gradually. At some point, side vision (peripheral vision) is lost and without treatment, total blindness will occur. Acute closed-angle glaucoma results when the normal flow of eye fluid (aqueous humor) between the iris and the lens becomes suddenly blocked. Symptoms may include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and seeing a rainbow halo around lights. Acute closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately or blindness could result in one or two days. Chronic closed-angle glaucoma progresses more slowly and can produce damage without symptoms, similar to open-angle glaucoma. Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma occurs in people with normal eye pressure who have optic nerve damage and experience narrowed side vision. Lowering eye pressure at least 30 percent through medicines slows the disease in some people. Glaucoma may worsen in others despite low pressures. A comprehensive medical history is important in identifying other potential risk factors, such as low blood pressure, that contribute to low-tension glaucoma. If no risk factors are identified, the treatment options for low-tension glaucoma are the same as for open-angle glaucoma. Secondary glaucoma occurs as the result of some other medical problem, such as inflammation, a tumor, or eye injury. Congenital glaucoma is a condition where babies are born with defects that prevent the normal drainage of fluid from the eye. Juvenile glaucoma has been used to describe open-angle glaucoma in children, adolescents and young adults. Pigmentary glaucoma is a rare form of the disease where pigment granules from the iris flake off into the aqueous humor (eye fluid) and then clog the eye drainage system (trabecular meshwork). Pseudoexfoliation syndrome occurs when outer layers of the lens flake off and block normal flow of the aqueous humor. Irido-corneal-endothelial syndrome (ICE) consists of a number of features, including the loss of cells from the cornea, which break off and block the drainage channels in the eye, resulting in increased eye pressure. There also may be scarring that connects the iris to the cornea. Neovascular glaucoma results from abnormal blood vessel growth that blocks the fluid drainage channels of the eye, resulting in increased eye pressure. Low blood supply to the eye as a result of diabetes, insufficient flow of blood to the head due to blocked arteries in the neck, or blockage of blood vessels in the back of the eye can cause the abnormal blood vessel growth.

Answer 8

Glaucoma is raised pressure within the eyeball. It is a common cause of blindness in the elderly. In its early stages there are no symptoms so you everyone should get their eyes tested every 2 years. Symptoms are pain in the eye, sensitivity to bright lights and haloes. It is rarely inherited but can be a symptom of Typr 2 diabetes. Treatment is with tablets or eye drops to reduce the pressure.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Pedestal was most informative. There is one item that no
one touched on: Glaucoma can be an early sign of diabetes.