Causes of Glaucoma

Cause details for Glaucoma: At the front of the eye, there is a small space called the anterior chamber. Clear fluid flows in and out of the chamber to bathe and nourish nearby tissues. In glaucoma, for still unknown reasons, the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises. Unless this pressure is controlled, it may cause damage to the optic nerve and other parts of the eye and loss of vision.¹

In many people, increased pressure inside the eye causes glaucoma. In the front of the eye is a space called the anterior chamber. A clear fluid flows continuously in and out of this space and nourishes nearby tissues.

Underlying condition causes of Glaucoma: The list of possible underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Glaucoma) mentioned in various sources as possible causes of Glaucoma includes:

Eye surgery
Advanced cataracts
Eye injury
Eye tumors (see Eye symptoms)
Uveitis (eye inflammation) (see Eye symptoms)
Diabetes
Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome

Glaucoma as a complication: Other conditions that might have Glaucoma as a complication might be potential underlying causes of Glaucoma. The list of conditions listing Glaucoma as a complication in our database includes:

Glaucoma as a symptom: Conditions listing Glaucoma as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Glaucoma. The list of conditions listing Glaucoma as a symptom in our database includes:

Causes of Glaucoma: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Glaucoma:

Related information for causes of Glaucoma: Further relevant information on causes of Glaucoma may be found in the risk factors for Glaucoma and underlying causes of Glaucoma.

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Are You at Risk for Glaucoma: NEI
2. excerpt from Facts About Glaucoma: NEI

Last revision: Nov 10, 2003

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