Glaucoma
Basics
The eye must have a certain dimensional stability to fulfill its functions, which is achieved by an internal pressure of about 14-20 mmHg. This intraocular pressure arises from the continuous formation of so-called aqueous liquid in the ciliary body behind the iris and a constant (necessary) outflow in the chamber angle (between the iris and the cornea).
Glaucoma refers to a range of eye diseases provoked by different causes where there is a mismatch between interocular pressure and "blood pressure", which means the failure of the circulation of the optic nerve. The result is a reduced blood flow and thus damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma is a chronic progressive eye disease and the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. The commonness of the disease increases with age and 2-4% of the people over 65 suffer from it.
Early detection gives the chance of early treatment and with it the avoidance of a gradual deterioration to prevent blindness. Nevertheless, there are approximately 1,000 new sight loss cases in Germany every year due to glaucoma.
Forms of glaucoma
- Aqueous fluid and eye pressure
The aqueous fluid formed in the ciliary body (behind the iris) surrounds the lens of the eye and the back surface of the cornea, thus ensuring the nutrition of these vascularized parts of the eye. For this purpose, a balance between production and outflow of aqueous fluid in the chamber angle (between cornea and iris) is required. - In narrow-angle glaucoma, the angle of the chamber is too narrow, it may become embarrassed, especially if the pupil is dilated. It can come to the glaucoma case.
- On the other hand, primary open-angle glaucoma can lead to an unnoticed imbalance of the pressure conditions, resulting in damage to the optic nerve fibers.
- Secondary glaucoma can occur as a result of various other diseases of the eye.