A disorder which is characterised by increased pressure within the eyeball.
This occurs secondary to the chronic blockage of normal fluid circulation within the eye. Increased pressure within the eye can cause damage to the optic nerve and eventual blindness. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness.
Symptoms include decreased vision, halos around lights (worse at night) and mild chronic headaches. Treatment is generally with beta-blocker eyedrops.
Synonym: chronic glaucoma, compensated glaucoma, simple glaucoma, glaucoma simplex.
(22 Sep 2002)