| Glaucoma consists of several types of disorders | | | | and thirties. In addition, myopic (nearsighted) |
| of the eye, pigmentary glaucoma being one type | | | | people seem to be at a slightly higher risk of |
| which, fortunately, is rather rare. The primary | | | | contracting pigmentary glaucoma than for those |
| symptom of glaucoma in the eye is the buildup of | | | | having normal vision or are farsighted. Sometimes, |
| internal eye pressure, or intraocular pressure | | | | the first, and only, signs that the condition is |
| (IOP). This buildup, if untreated, can eventually | | | | present, comes during or immediately following |
| damage the optic nerve and in a worst case | | | | exercise, such as jumping or jogging, where vision |
| scenario, result in blindness. | | | | may become temporarily blurred. More often than |
| The interior of the eye is filled with a fluid, | | | | not though, noticeable symptoms do not occur. |
| aqueous humor. The eye is constructed to allow | | | | Pigmentary glaucoma is treatable when not too |
| occasional draining or discharge of some of this | | | | far advanced. Treatment is designed to prevent a |
| fluid to prevent the internal pressure of the eye | | | | further flaking off of the pigment granules, and |
| from becoming too great. When glaucoma is | | | | usually is in the form of eye drops, Optipranlol and |
| present, the drainage mechanism has been | | | | Xalatan being two medications commonly |
| interrupted, leading to increasing pressure. This | | | | prescribed. In addition there is a class of drugs |
| normally occurs without causing pain or other | | | | called miotics, which sometimes are called into |
| noticeable symptoms, and often is not detected | | | | play. Most of these treatments cause no |
| until significant damage to the eye has already | | | | significant side effects, though incidences of |
| been done. | | | | blurred vision sometimes occur which may restrict |
| Pigmentary glaucoma occurs as the result of a | | | | their use. In recent years, laser surgery has been |
| condition known as the pigment dispersion | | | | employed to open the drainage canals and relieve |
| syndrome. Pigment granules are normally attached | | | | the pressure. Another laser-based treatment is to |
| to the back of the iris. These granules can | | | | create a small hole in the iris. This results in the iris |
| sometimes flake off into the aqueous humor, and | | | | moving slightly away from the lens, lessening the |
| eventually find their way to the interior eye | | | | chance of pigment dispersion which occurs when |
| drainage canals where, over a period of time, the | | | | lens fibers scrape against the iris. |
| granules will begin to block the canals. Once that | | | | Other types of glaucoma generally strike in later |
| happens, the pressure on the interior of the eye | | | | years, although myopic individuals are still slightly |
| will begin to increase. At the point where this | | | | more at risk, and tend to get the disease earlier |
| pressure begins to cause damage to the optic | | | | in life. No matter what one's age is, glaucoma of |
| nerve, the pigment dispersion syndrome has | | | | any type is a threat to one's vision and any |
| developed into pigmentary glaucoma. | | | | problems associated with vision should be |
| This rare disease occurs in men more so than | | | | promptly looked into. |
| women, and tends to strike men in their twenties | | | | |