Understanding the different types of glaucoma is crucial for effective management. Practices listed with Specialty Vision offer personalized care from experienced professionals to help protect your vision. Find a top optometrist or ophthalmologist near you today.
This guide explains the different types of glaucoma, what causes them, how they’re diagnosed, monitored, and treated, so you can better understand the condition and why personalized care from our eye doctors matters.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often because of high pressure inside the eye. Knowing how the different types compare can help you take charge of your eye health. Here’s a breakdown of the main types and what makes each one unique.
This is the most common kind of glaucoma, making up about 90% of cases. In this type, the eye's drain is open, but fluid leaves the eye too slowly. This causes pressure to build up, which can harm the nerve that helps you see. It usually happens without any early warning signs.
It often runs in families and is more common in African Americans. Regular eye exams are important because you might not notice anything wrong until damage has already started.
This type, also called low-tension glaucoma, damages the nerve in your eye even though the pressure in the eye stays normal. Doctors aren’t sure exactly why, but it may be due to less blood reaching the eye’s nerve.
This form shows that glaucoma can happen even without high eye pressure. It’s more common in people of Japanese background and those with family members who’ve had it, low blood pressure, or some heart problems. Like other types of glaucoma, regular eye checkups are key to catching it early.
Secondary open-angle glaucoma happens when another condition or outside factor causes pressure in the eye to rise. There are different types, each with its own cause. Looking at these types shows how glaucoma can vary.
In this type, a flaky, dandruff-like material builds up in the eye and blocks the drainage system. This causes pressure to go up. It’s more common in older adults from northern Europe. The pressure can rise suddenly and unpredictably, so it often needs closer watching and strong treatment.
Here, tiny bits of pigment from the colored part of your eye (the iris) come loose and clog the drain. This can happen during exercise, especially in younger people who are nearsighted. Pressure in the eye can go up and down, so eye doctors need to keep a close watch and adjust treatment as needed.
Using steroid medicines, like eye drops, injections, nasal sprays, or creams, can raise eye pressure. About 3 in 10 people may notice a small rise, but a few can have a bigger increase that needs treatment. Eye doctors usually manage this with pressure-lowering medications, and sometimes surgery is needed if medicine isn’t enough.
In a large group of 6,120 people with glaucoma, about 71% had primary glaucoma (the main form that isn’t caused by another eye problem), 17% had secondary glaucoma (caused by other eye conditions or injuries), and nearly 8% were glaucoma suspects (people who might have glaucoma but aren’t diagnosed yet).
Looking closer at the main types:
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG): The most common type, making up about 27% of cases.
Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG and PAC): These types, where the drainage angle in the eye is blocked, make up about 34% of cases.
Among secondary types:
Another major study found that about 2 out of every 100 people had glaucoma overall.
Worldwide, around 80 million people have glaucoma, and about 60 million of these have the open-angle type.
Angle-closure glaucoma, also called narrow-angle glaucoma, happens when the space between the iris and the cornea gets blocked. This stops fluid from draining like it should, which raises pressure inside the eye. The pressure can rise suddenly or slowly over time. Looking at the different types of this glaucoma helps us understand how fast it can affect vision and how quickly it needs to be treated.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a serious eye emergency. It happens when the eye’s drainage system suddenly shuts, causing pressure to rise quickly. This can lead to severe eye pain, redness, blurry vision, and even nausea or vomiting. Quick treatment, often using a laser to make a small hole in the iris, is needed to protect your vision. Spotting the signs early can help prevent lasting damage.
Chronic angle-closure glaucoma develops slowly as the eye’s drainage area becomes blocked over time. You might not notice any symptoms until damage has already occurred, which is why regular eye checkups are so important. Even though it progresses more slowly than the acute form, it can still seriously harm the optic nerve if not treated. Treatment may involve eye drops, laser procedures, or surgery, depending on how far the condition has progressed.
Secondary angle-closure glaucoma happens when something outside the eye’s normal structure, like an injury or another eye problem, causes the drainage angle to close. It’s often linked to other health conditions or eye diseases that cause swelling, tissue changes, or abnormal blood vessel growth.
This type of glaucoma happens when abnormal blood vessels grow on the iris and block the eye’s drainage system. It’s often caused by other health problems like diabetes or a blocked vein in the eye. People with this condition may feel pain, notice redness, and have sudden vision loss. Treatment includes medications, laser therapy, and sometimes surgery, to lower the pressure and treat the root cause of the abnormal blood vessel growth.
This form develops when the eye is inflamed, often due to a condition like uveitis. The inflammation, or the steroid medicines used to treat it, can raise eye pressure. Scar tissue or blockages in the drainage area lead to this type of glaucoma. Because inflammation can change over time, treatment focuses on both calming the inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs and lowering the eye pressure. About 2 out of 10 people with uveitis develop this type of glaucoma.
Sometimes, people are called glaucoma suspects when they show signs that might lead to glaucoma but don’t yet have clear damage to the optic nerve. This is also known as borderline glaucoma. It means there’s a higher risk, so regular, thorough eye exams are needed to watch for any changes. Catching it early gives eye doctors a chance to step in before serious vision loss happens.
Narrow-angle glaucoma and plateau iris syndrome are both conditions where the shape of the eye makes it harder for fluid to drain properly.
In narrow-angle glaucoma, the space between the iris and the cornea is too small, which blocks fluid from flowing out.
In plateau iris syndrome, the angle may look normal, but the way the iris is shaped still causes drainage problems.
Both conditions need close monitoring by an eye doctor. Preventive treatments, like a laser procedure called laser peripheral iridotomy, can help improve fluid flow and reduce the risk of high eye pressure.
Childhood glaucoma is a type of glaucoma that affects very young children, including infants. It usually happens because the eye’s drainage system didn’t form properly during development.
Signs in children can be easier to spot than in adults. These may include unusually large eyes, cloudy-looking corneas, lots of tearing, and sensitivity to light.
Don't take chances with your eye health. Contact a top optometrist or ophthalmologist listed with Specialty Vision today to get a thorough eye exam and personalized treatment for glaucoma. Protect your vision now!
When we look at the different types of glaucoma, they mostly fall into two main groups: open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. Many other forms are just variations or mixes of these two. Knowing the difference between them helps doctors choose the right treatment and better understand how the condition might develop over time.
This group includes primary open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, and several secondary types like pseudoexfoliative, pigmentary, and steroid-induced glaucoma. What they all have in common is that the eye’s drainage system gets blocked or doesn’t work well over time. This usually happens slowly and often without any early warning signs.
This group involves a physical blockage that prevents fluid from draining properly in the eye. It includes sudden cases like acute angle-closure glaucoma, slower-developing types like chronic angle-closure, and secondary forms such as neovascular and inflammatory glaucoma. How quickly treatment is needed can vary a lot depending on the type.
Each type of glaucoma has its own challenges when it comes to finding and managing it. That’s why regular eye exams and open communication with your eye doctor are so important, to catch and treat glaucoma as early as possible.
Glaucoma has different causes depending on the type. In primary open-angle glaucoma, aging slowly damages the eye’s drainage system. Normal-tension glaucoma is often linked to poor blood flow to the optic nerve, even when eye pressure stays normal.
Secondary glaucoma is caused by an outside factor. In pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, protein-like flakes build up and block drainage. In pigment dispersion, tiny pieces of the iris break off and clog the system. Using steroids, such as eye drops, creams, or nasal sprays, can also raise eye pressure and lead to glaucoma.
Angle-closure glaucoma usually happens when the space between the iris and cornea is too narrow or becomes suddenly blocked.
Understanding what’s causing the glaucoma helps doctors choose the right treatment. Some cases can be managed with eye drops or laser procedures, while others may need surgery. Regular checkups are important to catch problems early and prevent vision loss.
Diagnosing glaucoma begins with a complete eye exam. This typically involves measuring eye pressure, checking the optic nerve for signs of damage, and testing your side vision.
Open-angle glaucoma usually develops slowly and without symptoms, so regular eye exams are important, even if your eyes feel fine. Angle-closure glaucoma, however, can cause sudden pain or blurry vision and needs immediate attention. How often you need an exam depends on your risk level and the type of glaucoma.
Some tests, like gonioscopy, help doctors tell the different types of glaucoma apart. This test lets them see the drainage angle inside your eye, which is especially helpful if the angle is narrow or if there are abnormal blood vessels.
These are usually the first step and work by reducing fluid production or helping the eye drain fluid more effectively. Prescriptions may change over time to keep eye pressure controlled.
If drops aren’t enough, SLT can help improve drainage using gentle laser energy.
When both drops and laser don’t work well enough, incisional surgery creates a new path for fluid to leave the eye, further lowering eye pressure.
Researchers are exploring long-acting, sustained-release medications and new drug classes for easier, more effective care.
Even when eye pressure seems normal, doctors use the same options to reduce it further and protect the optic nerve.
Immediate intervention with a laser peripheral iridotomy is often required. This procedure makes a tiny opening in the iris to quickly restore fluid drainage and lower eye pressure.
Careful long-term management using medications, laser, or surgery is used to prevent nerve damage.
In some cases, removing the cataract helps open the drainage angle and improve eye pressure.
If one eye is affected, doctors may recommend preventive laser treatment for the other eye as well.
May require stronger or more frequent treatments (drops, laser, or surgery) depending on the underlying cause, such as pigment or exfoliation syndrome.
Treatment targets abnormal blood vessel growth using anti-VEGF injections and laser, combined with pressure-lowering medication and sometimes surgery.
Managed with drops, sometimes surgery, and treatments to control underlying inflammation. Laser is usually avoided.
Usually requires both medication and surgery. Some children need repeat procedures as they grow.
Management depends on the timing and type of injury, ranging from standard drops and surgery to customized approaches for complex cases.
Glaucoma affects people in different ways, depending on the type. Primary open-angle glaucoma is more common in older adults and often runs in families, especially among African Americans. Pigmentary glaucoma usually affects younger, nearsighted people and tends to appear more in young men.
Normal-tension glaucoma can happen at any age but is seen more often in certain groups, like those of Japanese descent. Congenital glaucoma is rare and occurs in babies and young children. Signs like cloudy eyes, frequent tearing, or sensitivity to light often appear shortly after birth and are caused by drainage system problems present from the beginning.
These differences show why glaucoma care needs to be personalized. Since risk factors vary so much, doctors consider your age, background, health history, and lifestyle when diagnosing and creating a treatment plan.
Each type of glaucoma comes with its own risks and long-term effects. Open-angle types tend to develop slowly, and with regular care, many people can keep their vision for years. But even slow damage can build up over time if it’s not caught early, which is why routine checkups are so important. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is much more urgent, eye pressure can rise fast and cause permanent vision loss within hours if it isn’t treated right away.
Secondary glaucomas can be harder to manage because they’re often linked to other health issues. For example, neovascular glaucoma is often tied to diabetes or problems with the retina. In these cases, treatment has to focus not just on the eye, but also on the health problems causing it. That’s why our doctors may work closely with your other healthcare providers to make sure everything is managed together.
No matter the type, whether it’s mild, advanced, or somewhere in between, early diagnosis makes a big difference. If you’re at risk or already being treated, regular eye exams are key to protecting your vision and keeping eye pressure in a safe range.
Don't take chances with your eye health. Contact a top optometrist or ophthalmologist listed with Specialty Vision today to get a thorough eye exam and personalized treatment for glaucoma. Protect your vision now!
Discover the various types of glaucoma, their causes, and treatments. Ensure your eye health with expert care from practices listed with Specialty Vision.
