Does anybody know what causes glaucoma?

I am living in Sudan and glaucoma is quite common here unlike the UK. Why would it be more prevalent in this country?

inter cranial pressure..type that into a search engine :)

Aqueous humor is a clear fluid in the front part of the eye.

Vitreous humor is a clear, jelly-like substance that fills the eye behind the lens and helps the eyeball keep its shape.


In a normal eye, aqueous humor is produced, circulates through the eye, and then drains out through the trabecular meshwork, which is the eye's filtration system. This is a series of tiny channels near the angle formed by the cornea (the clear portion of the eye), the iris (the colored portion of the eye), and the sclera (the white of the eye).

If there is any sort of blockage in these channels, pressure builds up inside the eyeball.

It is not known what causes glaucoma. Risk factors include family history of glaucoma, increased intraocular (eye) pressure, decreased thickness of the central part of the cornea, low diastolic blood (eye perfusion) pressure, diabetes, severe near-sightedness. In addition, African-Americans have a 4-fold higher incidence of the most common type of glaucoma - this probably explains why it is more common in Sudan than in the U.K.
In addition, since glaucoma causes symptoms and vision loss only after many years without treatment, probably many more complications are prevented in the U.K. (where people more commonly see eye doctors) than in Sudan by early intervention.

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease that if left untreated can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve resulting in gradual vision loss and eventual blindness.

Damage to the optic nerve, due to glaucoma, is usually caused by an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Clear fluid, called aqueous humor circulates through the eye providing nourishment to the tissues pressure to help maintain the shape of the eye.

Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent but can usually be prevented with early detection and treatment. Glaucoma management is usually a lifelong process that requires frequent monitoring and constant treatment. Since there is no way to determine if glaucoma is under control based on how a person feels, doctor visits should be on a regular basis.

Personal Note: As far as I know your born with it, you didn鈥檛 do anything to cause it and you can鈥檛 do anything to get rid of it. You just have to go to the doctor and be treated. My mother and both aunts had it鈥?It was first detected when I was about 40, when my eye sight changed. I started getting glaucoma treatment at about 50. Please get a check up and see the doctor regularly.

Hi from France 鈾?br>
Check out :
http://www.eheadthmd.com/library/glaucom...
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/g/glaucoma...
http://www.apagrafix.com/patiented/glauc...
http://www.docshop.com/education/vision/...
http://www.diseases-explained.com/glauco...

Have a nice day,

Cat.

Glaucoma is hereditary.

It can also be caused by diabetes, extreme near sightedness, and does tend to hit people of African descent more than say people of Caucasian descent.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions...

The actual cause is not known, but there is recent and extensive research going on. For example:
http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/1996/...

My dad has glaucoma.

He was on eyedrops for a while, went for an op. Now the pressure is back to normal.

Glaucoma is hereditary, so I have been monitoring my own situation.

Basically, if you show no signs by your mid 30s, you just need regular check-ups every few years or so to monitor situation. Galucoma causes permanent damage so slowly that you often aren't aware of it until you are in your late 40s early 50s, when the damage is big enough to be noticed.

So please do what I do, go for regular check-ups, they are worth it, especially if you have glaucoma history in your family.

Not sure what causes it buts it hereditary my dad and his sister has it , We are checked every year for it