Glaucoma facts for kids

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can damage your eye and make it hard to see. If someone with glaucoma doesn't get help from a doctor, they could lose their eyesight.

This problem happens when the pressure inside the eye becomes too high. This high pressure can hurt the optic nerve, which is like a cable that sends pictures from your eye to your brain. When the optic nerve is damaged, it can cause you to lose your vision. Sometimes, it can even be painful.

It can be tricky to know if you have glaucoma because vision loss often happens very slowly. The sad part is that once vision is lost because of glaucoma, it usually cannot be brought back.

There are different types of glaucoma. Some types develop quickly, while others get worse slowly over many years. Glaucoma is actually the second most common reason why people become blind around the world.

Why Glaucoma Happens

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition. It mainly affects the optic nerve, which is super important for your vision. Think of the optic nerve as a special wire that connects your eye to your brain. It carries all the visual information so your brain can understand what you're seeing.

Eye Pressure

Inside your eye, there's a clear liquid called aqueous humor. This liquid helps keep your eye healthy and in shape. It's constantly being made and drained out of the eye.

If this liquid doesn't drain properly, it can build up. This causes the pressure inside your eye to go up. This high pressure is what can damage the optic nerve. It's a bit like a balloon that's been overfilled.

Types of Glaucoma

There are two main types of glaucoma:

• Open-angle glaucoma: This is the most common type. It develops slowly over time. The drainage system in the eye looks normal, but it doesn't work as well as it should. People often don't notice any problems until a lot of vision is already lost.
• Angle-closure glaucoma: This type is less common but can happen very quickly. It's when the drainage system in the eye gets blocked suddenly. This causes a fast and painful increase in eye pressure. If this happens, it's an emergency, and you need to see a doctor right away!

Who Gets Glaucoma?

Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are more likely to get it than others.

Family History

If someone in your family, like a parent or a sibling, has had glaucoma, you might have a higher chance of getting it too. This is because glaucoma can sometimes be passed down through families. Scientists have even found some genes that might be linked to glaucoma.

Different Groups of People

Glaucoma can also affect different groups of people in different ways. For example, it's the main reason for blindness among African Americans. They tend to have higher rates of the most common type of glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma).

How Doctors Help

Doctors can check for glaucoma during a regular eye exam. They measure the pressure inside your eye and look at your optic nerve.

If glaucoma is found early, doctors can often help slow down or stop the vision loss. They might use eye drops to lower the pressure in your eye. Sometimes, they might suggest laser treatments or even surgery to help the fluid drain better.

Remember, getting regular eye check-ups is important, especially if glaucoma runs in your family!

Images for kids

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  This picture shows an eye with acute angle-closure glaucoma. You can see the red blood vessels and a cloudy area on the front of the eye.

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  This image uses a special technique called Laser Doppler imaging to show how blood flows in the eye. It reveals that blood flow can reverse in a type of glaucoma called neovascular glaucoma.

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  This is a cross-section view of a human eye, showing its different parts.

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  This image shows how glaucoma can affect your vision, creating blind spots in specific areas.

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  This picture shows a traditional surgery for glaucoma. The surgery creates a new opening to help fluid leave the eye, which lowers the pressure inside.

See also

In Spanish: Glaucoma para niños