For National Glaucoma Awareness Month, we offer a few observations. Glaucoma is defined as high intraocular pressure, which has damaged the optic nerve. Glaucoma gradually shrinks the visual field, and in rare cases causes vision loss. Normal intraocular pressure is maintained in the anterior chamber angle (trabecular meshwork), which should be open for 360 degrees. (Acute angle closure is a medical emergency.) Glaucoma has also been described as epithelial dysfunction and/or endothelial dysfunction, in the anterior chamber angle, causing loss of intraocular pressure control.

Glaucoma has many sub-types, which describe findings rather than the root cause. Glaucoma sub-types include POAG (open angle), closed angle glaucoma, low pressure glaucoma (a/k/a normal tension glaucoma or NTG), inflammatory glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, mixed glaucoma, traumatic glaucoma, iatrogenic glaucoma, and more. Glaucoma sub-types, generally, refer to inflammation, degeneration, clogging, excess blood vessels; and closure or partial closure of the angle (sticky)—all of which lead to high intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerve.

Chlamydia trachoma, chlamydia pneumonia, and/or, h-pylori have been found in a large percent of glaucoma patients. Research examining pathogen(s) individually was inconclusive as to the cause of glaucoma, and only associations were offered. Chlamydia trachoma attacks endothelium and epithelium, chlamydia pneumonia attacks endothelium, and H-pylori attacks epithelium and penetrates to stroma. Chlamydia trachoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world. All three pathogens are known to attack the eye, and cause pathologic changes found in glaucoma. Glaucoma can have different root infectious causes, and can be caused by any or all of these pathogens!