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Glaucoma is generally caused by increased eye
pressure |
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Glaucoma is the gradual loss of nerve cells in the eye, mainly
caused by raised eye pressure. This occurs when fluid outflow
becomes obstructed over time, so that the correct amount of fluid
cannot drain out of the eye (see How the eye works).
Glaucoma generally develops when eye pressure surpasses 21 mm
Hg (millimeters of mercury).
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Not all persons with raised eye pressure have
glaucoma |
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Some people with eye pressures above 21
mm Hg will never develop glaucoma because their nerve cells are
very resistant to eye pressure increases. Obviously these people
do not require therapy. Your eye doctor can determine whether
or not you already need a treatment. If not, you should still
receive regular (usually yearly) check-ups.
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Some persons with normal eye pressure can still
have glaucoma |
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Most people with eye pressures below 21 mm Hg will never have glaucoma,
although some people will. This happens when the nerve cells are
unusually sensitive to minor eye pressure increases. This is most
often the case when blood flow through the eye is impaired.
Therefore eye pressure measurements alone, cannot exclude with certainty
the possibility that you have glaucoma. Only your eye doctor can
with additional tests, detect so-called normal pressure glaucoma.
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Is glaucoma a form of cancer? |
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In plain English: no it isn’t!
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