Open-angle glaucoma

Glaucoma is the main cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma.

Frequently presents asymptomatically and can be identified on routine ophthalmic examination.

Intraocular pressure is most often elevated, but may be normal in some cases.

Optic disk cupping is diagnostic.

May lead to irreversible loss of peripheral vision and, later, of central vision if untreated.

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative condition primarily due to dysfunction in outflow of aqueous humor, the nutrient-rich fluid that constantly flows through the eye. Aqueous humor, created in the ciliary body, passes through the pupil into the small area between the iris and the cornea, called the anterior chamber. The fluid then flows into the periphery of the chamber known as the anterior chamber angle. This angle is where the fluid travels through the trabecular meshwork and into blood vessels. Open-angle glaucoma is characterized by an anatomically open angle but with an obstructed and slowed drainage system outflow. The mechanism of blockage is unclear. An increase in intraocular pressure results, characterized by retinal ganglion cell damage, then peripheral vision loss in early disease and central vision loss in late disease.[1]Weinreb RN, Leung CK, Crowston JG, et al. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016 Sep 22;2:16067. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27654570?tool=bestpractice.com ​​