Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
The eye produces a fluid called aqueous humor, which provides nutrition to the eye, and also maintains the eye in a pressurized state. The aqueous humor is continually produced and drains out of the trabecular meshwork, which is a network of cells and scaffolding material that sits in an area called the drainage angle. The angle can be thought of as the angle between the iris and the cornea. This drainage angle wraps 360 degrees around the circumference of the front part of the eye.
As we get older, the trabecular meshwork does not function as well, which affects how fluid flows out of the eye, and gradually the eye pressure can creep up over time. The elevated eye pressure damages the optic nerve cells and leads to irreversible vision loss.
In primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma in the United States, the drainage angle is in an open configuration.
Variations of Open-Angle Glaucoma
Patients who have normal- or low-tension glaucoma have “normal” eye pressures, generally considered to be less than 21 mmHg. The fact that this type of glaucoma exists means that while eye pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma, there are some patients whose optic nerves are susceptible to damage even at lower or “normal” eye pressures. The treatment is the same for patients with normal tension glaucoma as clinical trials have shown that lowering eye pressure, even when it is in the “normal” range, slows the disease.
About BrightFocus Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation is a premier global nonprofit funder of research to defeat Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Through its flagship research programs — Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research— the Foundation has awarded nearly $300 million in groundbreaking research funding over the past 51 years and shares the latest research findings, expert information, and resources to empower the millions impacted by these devastating diseases. Learn more at brightfocus.org.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is a public service of BrightFocus Foundation and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician for personalized medical, dietary, and/or exercise advice. Any medications or supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. BrightFocus Foundation does not endorse any medical products or therapies.
- Eye Health