Understand the terminology of glaucoma management. Explore clear, concise clinical definitions and what they mean for your trajectory.
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the iris rapidly or chronically pushes forward, physically blocking the trabecular meshwork and preventing aqueous fluid from escaping.
Aqueous humor is the clear fluid filling the space in the front of the eyeball between the lens and the cornea.
The cup-to-disc ratio is a structural measurement used by eye care professionals to assess the progression of glaucoma, comparing the diameter of the optic cup to the total diameter of the optic disc.
A glaucoma suspect is an individual possessing one or more clinical findings (such as elevated IOP, a suspicious optic cup appearance, or strong family history) without confirmed glaucomatous damage.
Gonioscopy is a biomicroscopic examination utilizing a specialized mirrored contact lens to visualize the anterior chamber angle anatomy, specifically the trabecular meshwork.
MIGS encompasses a diverse group of micro-incisional surgical procedures and implantable micro-stents designed to lower IOP safely, typically performed concurrently with cataract surgery.
Normal-Tension Glaucoma is a variant of open-angle glaucoma where optic nerve damage and vision loss occur despite intraocular pressures being consistently within the statistically "normal" range (10-21 mmHg).
Ocular hypertension is clinically defined by consistently elevated intraocular pressure (>21 mmHg) in the absence of any detectable optic nerve damage or visual field defects.
The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.
OCT is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-sectional pictures of the retina and optic nerve, allowing micron-level measurement of nerve layer thickness.
Pachymetry is a diagnostic procedure that measures the Central Corneal Thickness (CCT), typically utilizing ultrasound or optical technology.
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma, characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and visual field loss with a physically open anterior chamber angle.
Prostaglandin analogs are a class of synthetic lipid compounds used universally as first-line topical medical therapy to significantly increase uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor.
The RNFL is the innermost layer of the retina composed of the unmyelinated axons of the retinal ganglion cells that travel toward the optic nerve head.
A scotoma is an area of partial or complete alteration in the field of vision consisting of a partially diminished or entirely degenerated central or peripheral blind spot.
SLT is an advanced ophthalmic laser procedure that applies low-energy light to the trabecular meshwork to stimulate a biochemical tissue-remodeling response, enhancing aqueous outflow.
Target IOP is an individualized therapeutic pressure goal established by the clinician, estimated to prevent further ongoing glaucomatous damage based on the severity of the disease at presentation.
Tonometry is the standard diagnostic test that measures the fluid pressure inside your eye (intraocular pressure or IOP).
The trabecular meshwork is the spongy, sieve-like tissue located around the base of the cornea, responsible for draining the aqueous humor from the eye into the bloodstream.
Trabeculectomy is a gold-standard incisional glaucoma surgery that creates a new pathway for fluid to drain from the eye, lowering intraocular pressure.
The Visual Field Index is a global summary metric that quantifies the overall percentage of normal vision a patient retains, adjusted for age, ranging from 100% (perfect) to 0% (perimetrically blind).
A visual field test is a subjective functional clinical exam that measures the full horizontal and vertical range and sensitivity of peripheral and central vision.