What is diabetes glaucoma?

Diabetes glaucoma occurs when increased eye pressure damages the optic nerve.  The optic nerve is located attached to the retina located at the back of the eye and transmits visual images to the brain. 

When a diabetes patient has too much intraocular pressure (i.e., fluid pressure inside the eye), the optic nerve can get permanently damaged and lead to gradual peripheral vision loss, and eventually to total blindness. 

Intraocular pressure may increase because the aqueous humor that normally flows out of the eye gets blocked in the trabecular meshwork.

It is very important for diabetics to follow their eye doctor's instructions to get regular eye exams, because glaucoma usually progresses slowly, and the diabetes patient may not notice the loss of eyesight due to the normally slow progression of glaucoma.

There are two main categories of glaucoma:

• Open Angle Glaucoma
• Angle Closure Glaucoma

"Open Angle" glaucoma progresses over time and the diabetic may not notice the gradual loss of their vision.  The damage done to the optic nerve cannot be repaired, at least with current technology.  Perhaps someday with advances in stem cell research; but for now, once the damage has been done, there is no way to restore the vision that has already been lost.  Through routine eye exams, if glaucoma is determined, the doctor can prescribe eye drops to reduce eye pressure in order to prevent further damage to the optic nerve.

"Angle Closure" glaucoma develops more suddenly than"Open Angle" glaucoma, and usually there is discomfort or pain in the eye.  This discomfort or pain will normally force the diabetes patient to setup an appointment with the eye doctor where glaucoma can be readily diagnosed and future damage to the optic nerve can be prevented through eye drops used to reduce intraocular pressure.