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glaucoma
(glaw-)
(glou-ko´mә)
a group of diseases of the eye characterized by increased intraocular pressure, resulting in pathological changes in the optic disk and defects in the visual field. The normal eye is filled with aqueous humor in an amount carefully regulated to maintain the shape of the eyeball. In glaucoma, the balance of this fluid is disturbed;
fluid is formed more rapidly than it can leave the eye, and pressure builds up, which damages the retina and causes visual disturbances. Types of glaucoma include congenital, juvenile, angle-closure or closed-angle, and open-angle. adj., glauco´matous., adj.
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