What is the difference between glaucoma and high eye pressure, their symptoms, and effective treatment methods? They are both common eye diseases. Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and can cause vision loss. It is often the result of high eye pressure, while high eye pressure is a condition in which fluid within the eye increases and does not necessarily develop into glaucoma. We will explain the difference between them, their symptoms, causes, and effective treatment methods.
What is glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, which transmits information from the eye to the visual center in your brain. This damage can lead to permanent vision loss and affects people over the age of 60.
What is high eye pressure
High eye pressure is a condition in which fluid within the eye does not drain properly, causing fluid to accumulate and increased eye pressure.
Symptoms of glaucoma and high eye pressure
Symptoms of glaucoma may include severe and sudden symptoms, such as:
- Severe headache.
- Severe eye pain.
- Eye redness.
- Sudden blurred vision.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Eye swelling.
Symptoms of high eye pressure include:
- Severe redness inside the eye.
- Severe pain in the eye.
- Seeing rainbow colors when looking directly at a light.
- Bright circles around objects.
- Dark spots in the field of vision.
- Disturbed vision.
- Blurred vision.
- Vision loss.
- Headache.
- Eye irritation.
Is high eye pressure glaucoma
No, high eye pressure is not always glaucoma. High eye pressure is the main risk factor for glaucoma, but it is not the disease itself. Glaucoma occurs when high eye pressure damages the optic nerve, which can lead to vision loss.
Causes of Glaucoma
Glaucoma has various causes, including fluid buildup and pressure within the eye:
- Diabetes is the most common cause of glaucoma.
- Genetics increases the risk of developing glaucoma.
- Undergoing certain eye surgeries.
- The disease's prevalence increases with age.
- Some eye diseases, such as optic nerve sensitivity, retinal detachment, and corneal detachment.
- Long-term use of corticosteroid medications (cortisone).
What are the causes of high eye pressure
Causes of high eye pressure include excessive production of fluid that fills the space between the cornea and iris, insufficient fluid drainage, and the use of medications containing cortisone.
Eye diseases such as pseudoexfoliation syndrome (pseudoglaucoma), complicated pregnancies accompanied by sudden changes in pressure, and cases of arcus senilis and pigment dispersion syndrome.
What are the types of glaucoma
- Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. This type occurs when the drainage channels in the eye become blocked, causing fluid to accumulate and press on the optic nerve.
- Angle-closure glaucoma is a rare condition in which the angle between the iris and cornea is too narrow.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a less common type, resulting from a sudden blockage of the drainage channel in the eye, leading to a rapid rise in intraocular pressure.
How is glaucoma diagnosed
Since glaucoma symptoms are delayed in onset, regular examinations help assess eye health. These include:
- Eye examination with dilation
- Examination of the optic nerve at the back of the eye
- Internal examination of the eye using a special microscope called a slit lamp
- Ophthalmoscope to examine the angle of the eye
- Tonometry test
- Internal examination of the eye using a special microscope called a slit lamp
- Optical coherence tomography
Diagnosing High Eye Pressure
An ophthalmologist performs a comprehensive eye examination to determine the possibility of developing high eye pressure. These tests include:
Gonioscopy
Corneal thickness measurement
Visual field testing to check the field of vision
Tonography, which measures the intraocular pressure.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma treatment aims to lower eye pressure to prevent or slow optic nerve damage by alleviating symptoms through:
- Laser therapy improves fluid drainage from narrowed channels in the eye and is also used to reduce eye pressure.
- Surgery is a method for reducing eye pressure, draining fluid, and opening narrowed channels.
- Medication: Many eye drops prescribed by the treating physician can be used to improve eye pressure. Some reduce fluid and increase drainage to improve eye pressure.
How is high eye pressure treated
Treatment of high eye pressure primarily involves the use of eye drops to reduce fluid production or increase drainage, and laser therapy to open the drainage channels in the eye, facilitating fluid drainage.
If the condition responds to medication, the doctor may resort to surgical intervention by implanting drainage tubes, where thin tubes are placed in the eye to drain excess fluid.
Summary of the difference between glaucoma and high eye pressure
Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and sometimes causes vision loss. It is often the result of high eye pressure. Glaucoma is the same disease that leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss.
While high eye pressure is a condition characterized by increased fluid within the eye and may not necessarily develop into glaucoma if it does not damage the optic nerve, high eye pressure is a risk factor for glaucoma.