Chronic glaucoma or POAG or primary open angle glaucoma is mostly known as the ‘the sly robber of eyesight’ as one has no caveat signs, no pains or clues about something not right. Nearly half the U.S. populace having chronic glaucoma are unaware of its presence.
An imbalanced production and draining of aqueous humor (clear fluid) which packs the anterior chamber of the eye causes open angle glaucoma. This could develop due to ciliary body manufacturing excessive aqueous or due to blockage in the drainage channels or trabecular meshwork present in the eye’s anterior chamber leading to elevation in IOP (internal eye pressure).
Due to IOP increasing, resultant pressure would push further against the optic nerve’s fibres that convey images to the brain. A surge in pressure decreases blood flow to optic nerve and hence deprives it of crucial nutrient and oxygen. With passage of time, elevated IOP could lead to irreparable harm to the optic nerve and eyesight failure.
| Risk Factor | Category Score |
| Age | 0 = younger than 50
1 = age 50 through 64 2 = age 65 through 74 3 = age 75 or older |
| Race | 0 = Caucasian
1 = Hispanic 2 = African-American |
| Family history of glaucoma | 0 = none or only in distant relatives
2 = one or both parents with glaucoma 3 = one or more siblings with glaucoma 3 = one or both parents AND one or more siblings with glaucoma |
| Last eye examination | 0 = within the last two years
1 = two to five years ago 2 = more than five years ago |
Chronic or open angle glaucoma risk factors comprise of:
- Age
From forty years of age onwards, chances of developing this eye condition extensively rises and continuing every ten years. There is shrinkage or narrowing of drainage channels as one ages leading to slackened fluid seepage from the eyes. - M
edical conditions
Being diabetic, severe myopia (short-sightedness) and earlier surgical procedure performed on eyes raise the risk of developing open angle glaucoma. In case a person has a medical problem that needs steroidal usage (orally or inhalable), especially elevated dosages for lengthy time spans, then it could also raise risk. Medical problems associated with glaucoma comprise of hypertension, constricted blood vessels or vasospasm, heart ailment and migraine headaches. - Eye Irregularities
Particular irregularities that have an effect on the inner eye constitution could be contributory to chronic open-angle glaucoma. Proteins present in the eye’s innate lens and other components get sloughed off and clogging of draining system of the eyes occurs due to pseudoexfoliation syndrome. An erroneously shaped iris could block the filtering inclination where draining happens which could lead to glaucoma. - Ethnicity
Afro-American ethnicity have nearly three or four folds greater prevalence of glaucoma as compared to the white populace. Furthermore, this race has greater likelihood of developing a belligerent type of condition at an earlier age. - Family history of the condition
Open angle glaucoma risk could be thrice or four folds greater in case a single or both parents and brother/sister have the condition.
