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Open-angle glaucoma
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- The eyeball contains fluid (called intraocular fluid). There is a constant flow of fluid in the eyeball. The fluid is made and then reabsorbed. For unknown reasons, fluid pressure can slowly increase. This increase in pressure will damage the optic nerve and over time lead to a painless loss of vision. This is called chronic glaucoma.
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- Initially none
- Gradual loss of peripheral vision (vision eventually becomes "tunneled")
- Examination:
- Cupping of an optic disk (scooped-out appearance); or asymmetry of disks comparing one eye to the other
- Visual field defects
- Central visual field testing
- Tonometry shows increased intraocular pressure
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- African-Americans -- tend to get it at an early age
- Diabetics
- Those with a positive family history for glaucoma
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- Timolol
- Levobunolol
- Metipranolol
- Betaxolol
- Epinephrine
- Pilocarpine (not used by itself)
- Acetazolamide for more severe cases while awaiting laser surgery
- Laser surgery
- Surgery (called trabeculectomy)
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- You need to see an ophthalmologist (medical eye doctor) very soon. Untreated, this condition eventually leads to complete blindness.
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- Eye exam with intraocular pressure measurements (tonometry) every three to five years
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