Causes of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the cable that carries images from the eye to the brain. In most types the damage is linked to raised pressure inside the eye, though not always.

How the damage happens

The eye constantly makes a clear fluid (aqueous humour) and drains it. When drainage is blocked or slow, pressure builds and slowly injures the optic nerve fibres. Some people develop damage even with normal pressure, probably because of poor blood supply to the nerve.

Risk factors

• Age above 40, and risk rises further after 60
• Family history of glaucoma
• Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease
• High short-sightedness (myopia) or very long-sightedness, which suits angle closure
• Long-term steroid use, including eye drops, tablets and some creams
• Previous eye injury, eye surgery or eye inflammation
• Thin cornea
• Some medicines and eye conditions that block drainage

Causes of secondary glaucoma

Injury, inflammation (uveitis), tumours, bleeding in the eye, and complications of diabetes can all raise eye pressure.

Ayurvedic view

Ayurveda discusses vision loss under several eye-disease headings. These are interpretive links, and no classical term maps neatly onto glaucoma.