What is the difference between primary and secondary glaucoma?

Primary glaucoma is glaucoma that develops due to an unknown cause. Secondary glaucoma develops from a known cause, usually due to a serious eye injury, cataract, tumor, or diabetes. Although they have different causes, primary and secondary glaucoma share the same signs and symptoms.

What is the main cause of secondary type of glaucoma?

Causes of secondary glaucoma Inflammation of the uvea (uveitis), diabetes, high blood pressure and certain medications — most commonly steroids — also can affect the eye’s ability to drain properly. Secondary glaucoma can be sudden or gradual, depending on its underlying cause.

What is primary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma?

In primary angle closure glaucoma, the underlying mechanism is primarily pupillary block, while in secondary forms there are other underlying causes that either push the iris forward from behind or pull the iris forward to contact trabecular meshwork.

How do you get secondary glaucoma?

Secondary angle-closure glaucomas occur when the eye’s angle (the angle between the iris, which makes up the colored part of your eye, and the cornea, which is the clear window front part of your eye) is narrow or closed by an identifiable cause such as: abnormal blood vessel growth (neovascular glaucoma)

What are the 2 types of glaucoma?

Although there are many types of glaucoma, ophthalmologists typically group them into two main categories: open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Forms of glaucoma in both categories are characterized by damage to the optic nerve which can eventually lead to blindness.

What are the symptoms of secondary glaucoma?

Symptoms of Secondary Glaucoma

  • Patchy blind spots in your peripheral vision.
  • Severe headache.
  • Pain in the eyes.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Visible halos around lights.
  • Redness of the eyes.

Is secondary glaucoma chronic?

Like the primary forms of angle-closure glaucoma, secondary angle-closure glaucoma can be either acute or chronic.

What signs secondary glaucoma?

As secondary glaucoma progresses, symptoms include the loss of field vision and using stairs becomes difficult. Reading and vision are still normally good. If left untreated, sight may be lost. Some patients report eye ache with cloudy vision.

How do you know if you have secondary glaucoma?

Diagnosis of secondary glaucoma Visual field test – a test to check your peripheral vision. Visual acuity test – to check vision at various distances. Gonioscopy – an instrument based test to check the front part of the eye. Ophthalmoscopy – a test to check the interior of the eye using a special instrument.

Which type of glaucoma is most common?

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type in the United States, where 9 in 10 people with glaucoma have the open-angle type.