There are three basic types: Primary, Secondary, and Congenital Glaucoma.

Primary Glaucoma is the most common type and can be divided into open angle and closed angle Glaucoma.

Open angle Glaucoma is the type seen most frequently in the United States. It is usually detected in its early stages during routine eye examinations.

Closed angle Glaucoma, also called acute Glaucoma, usually has a sudden onset. It is characterized by eye pain and blurred vision.

Secondary Glaucoma occurs as a complication of a variety of other conditions, such as injury, inflammation, vascular disease and diabetes.

Congenital Glaucoma is due to a developmental defect in the eye’s drainage mechanism.

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Early detection of open angle Glaucoma is extremely important, because there are no early symptoms. Routine eye exams, common after age 45, are a major factor in early detection. People with a family history of Glaucoma should be checked at intervals in their 30s to establish a baseline. Initially, detection is based often on intraocular pressure readings, but also includes observation of the optic nerve as well as evaluation of optic nerve function using visual field tests.

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When medication and laser surgery fail to control progression of Glaucoma, a surgical procedure known as a filtering operation is recommended to create an artificial outlet for fluid from the eye, thus lowering intraocular pressure.

The most helpful advice concerning Glaucoma is to keep in mind the importance of early detection through routine eye examination, faithful use of prescribed medications, and close monitoring by an eye doctor of the optic nerve, visual fields and pressures.

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Between 89,000 and 120,000 people are blind from Glaucoma yearly. It is a leading cause of blindness, accounting for between nine and 12 percent of all cases of blindness. The rate of blindness from Glaucoma is between 93 and 126 per 100,000 population over 40.

Between two million and three million Americans age 40 and over, or about one in every 30 people in that age group have Glaucoma. This includes at least one half of all those who have Glaucoma are unaware of it.

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In the vast majority of cases, especially in early stages, there are few signs or symptoms. In the later stages of the disease, symptoms can occur that include:

loss of side vision;

an inability to adjust the eye to darkened rooms;

difficulty focusing on close work;

rainbow colored rings or halos around lights; and

frequent need to change eyeglass prescriptions

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Not yet. Any sight that has been destroyed cannot be restored, but medical and surgical treatment can help slow the disease progression.

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Not yet, but blindness from Glaucoma can be prevented through early detection and appropriate treatment.

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A number of risk factors for the development of Glaucoma exist. The most important of these include high pressure inside the eye, advanced age, extreme near-sightedness, or a family history of Glaucoma.

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Both are eye doctors that diagnose and treat many of the same eye conditions. The American Optometric Association defines Doctors of Optometry as: primary health care professionals who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions. They prescribe glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy and medications as well as perform certain surgical procedures.

The main difference between the two, is that ophthalmologists perform surgery, where an optometrist would not, preferring to specialize in eye examinations, as well as eyeglass and contact lens related services.

Optometrists would be involved in all of the pre- and post-operative care of these patients; collecting accurate data, educating the patient, and insuring proper healing after the procedure. An ophthalmologist is more of a medical related specialist, who would need only to be involved if some kind of surgery were being considered. An optometrist can treat many eye condition if needed. This may include the treatment of eye infections, allergic eye conditions and others, to name just a few.

A third "O" that often is overlooked, is the optician. An optician is not a doctor, and they cannot examine your eye under their own license. However, a highly trained optician plays an indispensable role in the most successful eye doctors' offices. An optician most often handles the optical and glasses side of things. Based on their vast knowledge of lenses, lens technology and frames, they manufacture eyeglasses, as well as assist in the selection of eyewear, based on the requirements of each individual patient.

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