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Glaucoma Causes
Glaucoma Causes
Most glaucoma is caused by too much pressure in your eye. It is tied to the clear fluid (aqueous humor) that circulates in the front part of your eye. The eye maintains a critical balance by constantly regulating eye pressure — similar to blood pressure.
Too much fluid in your eye causes intraocular pressure (IOP) to rise. There are two kinds of pressure-related glaucoma:
- Open-angle glaucoma: The most common kind of glaucoma, it occurs when your eye's drainage system is not functioning well.
- Closed-angle glaucoma: When the colored-part of your eye (iris) gets too close to the drainage system, it can block the outward flow of fluid. This causes pressure to spike and requires immediate treatment. People of Asian descent and those who are farsighted (hyperopia) are more susceptible to developing this form. (Learn more about hyperopia.)
Types of glaucoma and related conditions also include:
- Normal-tension glaucoma: The optic nerve becomes damaged and vision diminishes, despite eye pressure remaining in the normal range and not rising.
- Congenital glaucoma: Infants and young children can develop this form of glaucoma, which is often inherited.
- Secondary glaucoma: Another eye condition or disease causes glaucoma, such as inflammation, surgery, trauma, medications, etc.
- Suspected glaucoma and ocular hypertension: Some people have normal pressure but show signs their optic nerve or vision is at risk. Others have high eye pressure but no indications of damage. We watch both types of glaucoma risk groups carefully.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.