Types of Glaucoma & Treatment in Ahmedabad — Puja Eye Hospital
Glaucoma is not a single disease — it is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, usually (but not always) as a result of elevated intraocular pressure. If left untreated, glaucoma causes progressive, irreversible vision loss and, ultimately, blindness.
Each type of glaucoma has a different underlying cause, a different pattern of development, and a different approach to treatment. Understanding your specific type of glaucoma is the foundation of effective long-term management.
At Puja Eye Hospital, Naranpura, Dr. Puja Sheth — MBBS, DNB Ophthalmology, FIGS — provides expert diagnosis and specialist care for all types of glaucoma.
1. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)
Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma worldwide, accounting for the majority of all glaucoma cases. It develops slowly and silently — there are no symptoms in the early stages, and most patients are unaware of any problem until significant damage has already occurred.
What Causes POAG?
In POAG, the drainage angle of the eye remains open and appears anatomically normal, but the microscopic drainage channels (the trabecular meshwork) gradually become less efficient over time. This leads to a slow build-up of aqueous fluid and a gradual rise in intraocular pressure, which progressively damages the optic nerve.
Who Is at Risk?
- People above 40 years of age — risk increases significantly with age
- Individuals with a first-degree family history of glaucoma
- Patients with elevated eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
- Patients with high myopia (short-sightedness)
- Patients with thin corneas
Who Is at Risk?
2. Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Acute vs. Chronic Angle Closure
Angle-closure glaucoma can present in two ways. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency — characterised by a sudden, severe rise in eye pressure accompanied by intense eye pain, redness, headache, nausea, halos around lights, and significantly blurred vision. This requires immediate treatment. Chronic angle-closure glaucoma develops more slowly, sometimes without dramatic symptoms, and is detected through gonioscopy during a comprehensive eye examination.
Risk Factors
- Far-sightedness (hyperopia) — farsighted eyes tend to have shallower anterior chambers and narrower angles
- Older age — the lens of the eye grows throughout life, gradually pushing the iris forward
- Asian ethnicity — angle-closure glaucoma is significantly more common in Asian populations
- Family history of angle-closure glaucoma
Treatment
Laser peripheral iridotomy is the primary treatment for eyes with narrow or closed angles. It creates a bypass channel in the iris that relieves the pressure differential and opens the drainage angle. Medical therapy and, in some cases, surgery are used alongside laser treatment when needed.
3. Normal-Tension Glaucoma (NTG)
Normal-tension glaucoma is a type of open-angle glaucoma in which the optic nerve is damaged despite the eye pressure being within the statistically normal range (below 21 mmHg). This is not a rare condition — it accounts for a significant proportion of glaucoma cases in South and East Asian populations.
Why Does NTG Occur?
Treatment
4. Secondary Glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma refers to elevated intraocular pressure and glaucomatous optic nerve damage that occurs as a consequence of another identifiable eye condition or systemic disease. It is important to identify and treat the underlying cause alongside managing the elevated pressure.
Common Causes of Secondary Glaucoma
- Steroid-induced glaucoma — prolonged use of steroid eye drops, steroid inhalers, nasal sprays, or oral steroids in susceptible individuals
- Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma — caused by the deposition of abnormal protein material in the drainage structures of the eye
- Pigmentary glaucoma — caused by pigment granules shedding from the iris and clogging the trabecular meshwork
- Neovascular glaucoma — caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the drainage angle, most commonly associated with diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion
- Traumatic glaucoma — caused by injury to the eye that damages the drainage angle
- Uveitic glaucoma — caused by inflammation within the eye
Treatment
Treatment is tailored to both the underlying cause and the elevated pressure. Stopping or reducing the causative agent (such as steroid eye drops) is the first step where possible. Pressure-lowering drops, laser, or surgery are used based on the severity and response to initial measures.
5. Congenital and Childhood Glaucoma
Congenital glaucoma is present from birth or develops in infancy and early childhood. It is caused by abnormal development of the eye’s drainage system during foetal development, resulting in obstruction of aqueous outflow and elevated intraocular pressure from a very early age.
Signs and Symptoms in Children
- Enlarged eyes — the infant eye is more elastic than the adult eye and expands under the elevated pressure (buphthalmos)
- Excessive tearing
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Cloudy or hazy corneas
- Frequent blinking or eye rubbing
Treatment
Congenital glaucoma is primarily treated with surgery. Angle surgery (goniotomy or trabeculotomy) is performed to open the abnormal drainage tissue and restore normal aqueous outflow. Medical therapy and further surgical procedures may be required alongside or after the primary intervention.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters in All Types of Glaucoma
Regardless of the type of glaucoma, the single most important factor in preserving vision is early detection. The optic nerve damage caused by glaucoma is irreversible — vision that is lost cannot be restored. Treatment can slow or halt progression, but it cannot reverse damage that has already occurred.
For patients with risk factors — family history, elevated eye pressure, age above 40, diabetes, or previous eye problems — a comprehensive glaucoma evaluation with an experienced glaucoma specialist is the most effective investment in long-term eye health.
Puja Eye Hospital- Glaucoma Eye Hospital
- 918780012121
- 401-402, The 132 Offices and Showrooms Near Shell Petrol Pump, Besides Indraprastha Saptak 132 Ft. Ring Road, AEC Cross Rd, Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380013
- Monday to Saturday : 9:30 am–4:30 pm
Protect Your Vision — Book a Glaucoma Evaluation Today
FAQs
Yes. Glaucoma commonly affects both eyes, although it may develop at different rates in each eye. Both eyes are always examined and monitored, even if only one eye appears to have significant disease at the time of diagnosis.
Yes. A family history of glaucoma — particularly in first-degree relatives (parents or siblings) — is one of the strongest known risk factors. First-degree relatives of glaucoma patients should have a comprehensive glaucoma evaluation regularly, even if they have no symptoms.
Most types of glaucoma cannot be entirely prevented. However, early detection through regular screening — particularly if you have risk factors — means that treatment can be started before significant vision loss occurs. Avoiding unnecessary or unsupervised long-term steroid use is one actionable step that reduces the risk of steroid-induced glaucoma.