What causes glaucoma?

What causes glaucoma?

• A. Inflammation of the cornea.
• B. Increased intraocular pressure due to anterior chamber fluid issues.
• C. Degeneration of retina photoreceptors.
• D. Excessive tear production.

Answer: (B)

Glaucoma is driven by higher-than-normal intraocular pressure caused by trouble draining aqueous humor from the eye’s anterior chamber. Aqueous humor is produced by the ciliary body, flows into the posterior chamber, through the pupil into the anterior chamber, and mostly drains via the trabecular meshwork into Schlemm’s canal. When drainage is blocked or reduced, the fluid builds up and pressure rises. That sustained elevation damages the optic nerve, especially the optic nerve head, leading to progressive vision loss. Other suggestions describe issues that don’t involve the eye’s pressure dynamics: corneal inflammation affects the cornea, retinal photoreceptor degeneration affects the retina, and excessive tearing is about tear production—not intraocular pressure.

Glaucoma is driven by higher-than-normal intraocular pressure caused by trouble draining aqueous humor from the eye’s anterior chamber. Aqueous humor is produced by the ciliary body, flows into the posterior chamber, through the pupil into the anterior chamber, and mostly drains via the trabecular meshwork into Schlemm’s canal. When drainage is blocked or reduced, the fluid builds up and pressure rises. That sustained elevation damages the optic nerve, especially the optic nerve head, leading to progressive vision loss. Other suggestions describe issues that don’t involve the eye’s pressure dynamics: corneal inflammation affects the cornea, retinal photoreceptor degeneration affects the retina, and excessive tearing is about tear production—not intraocular pressure.