In contrast to acute glaucoma, chronic glaucoma (or primary open-angle glaucoma) has no obvious symptoms during its development process. This form of glaucoma gradually reduces the patient’s peripheral vision and permanent damage has become a reality once you realize it. It sounds scary and chronic is actually called “the silent thief of sight”.

However, chronic glaucoma performs in a similar way as acute glaucoma does. Both of them involve high IOP, which is caused by eye fluid drainage channel blockage. High IOP pushes against the optic nerve and reduces the blood supply to the optic nerve, so that vision loss is caused over time. The difference between two types of glaucoma is that the chronic form of glaucoma builds up IOP chronically, rather than suddenly.

There are various risk factors for chronic glaucoma, such as aging, medical problems, eye problems, race and family history. Natural aging may cause drainage channels to shrink and narrow gradually, resulting in slower fluids flow. People above 40 have a much higher risk. Diabetes, high level myopia, eye surgery history and high dose steroids experience will increase the rate of developing chronic glaucoma. Dangerous medical conditions also include migraine headaches, high blood pressure, and narrowed blood vessels and so on.

Eye abnormalities that affect the internal eye structure may cause chronic glaucoma. For example, pseudoexfoliation syndrome causes proteins to clog the eye’s drain system. African-Americans are estimated to have much higher risks of developing aggressive forms of chronic glaucoma. Chronic patients among your parents and siblings may bring a higher rate of the disease to you.

Currently, treatments for chronic glaucoma include topical glaucoma eye drops, laser and non-laser glaucoma surgeries.

acute glaucoma

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