Glaucoma is a term that describes a group of eye disorders with the common characteristic of increased pressure of the eye fluid (aqueous humour), which is called intraocular pressure.
The eye is an asymmetric globe.
The front part of the eye consists of:
Just below the iris and pupil, the lens (eye lens) is located.
The eye is filled with a gel called vitreous.
The eye is enveloped by three layers:
The intraocular pressure of the eye is measured in millimeters of mercury. The normal values of intraocular pressure are 12-22 mmHg.
The eye fluid (aqueous humour) is produced by the ciliary processes of the eye, then this fluid passes into the posterior chamber of the eye, further through the pupil into the anterior chamber of the eye, from here the trabecular meshwork drains this fluid through Schlemm's canal into the scleral plexus and into the blood circulation.
An increase in intraocular pressure can damage the vision in the affected eye and can lead to complete blindness if not treated. Loss of vision occurs due to damage to the optic nerve which transmits visual signals from the eye to the brain.
Glaucoma is classified into two categories:
*The angle refers to the space between the cornea and the iris – the iridocorneal angle, through which the eye fluid must flow to be drained through the trabecular meshwork into the blood circulation.