“Glaucoma” is a description of high intraocular pressure with damage to the optic nerve, causing a measurable loss of peripheral vision. Ocular hypertension is high intraocular pressure without optic nerve damage or peripheral vision loss. Dozens of scientific articles have “associated” immortal pathogens with glaucoma, in including chlamydia pneumonia, chlamydia trachoma, chlamydia psittacosis, H-pylori, and toxoplasmosis.

Glaucoma has many forms, and has been described as an epithelial disease and as an endothelial disease. The most common form is “primary open angle glaucoma” (POAG), which is high intraocular pressure with an open anterior chamber angle. High titers of chlamydia pneumonia have been associated with POAG, without systemic disease; and H-pylori was found in the aqueous humor of POAG patients. H-pylori was reported to be strongly “associated” and possibly a cause of glaucoma. A 2nd type is closed-angle glaucoma, which is when sticky material and/or scarring close or partially close the anterior chamber angle, reducing intraocular pressure control. Chlamydia trachoma and H-pylori can attack epithelium, and cause sticky residue and scarring, creating a closed or partially closed angle. A 3rd type is pigment-dispersion glaucoma, which occurs when iris particles disperse into the anterior chamber angle, clogging the angle and impairing intraocular pressure control. Toxoplasmosis has been “associated” with iris disintegration, causing pigment dispersion glaucoma. A 4th type is inflammatory glaucoma, which describes inflammation that is thought to be causing high pressure. A 5th type is mixed glaucoma, which is when a patient is thought to have more than one type of glaucoma. A 6th type is low-pressure glaucoma, which describes optic nerve damage in the presence of normal eye pressure.

Glaucoma and ocular hypertension describe high pressure and the effect of high pressure. Glaucoma can be caused by more than one pathogen, and by different mechanisms—leading to various forms of glaucoma. Identification of immortal pathogens in glaucoma may aid in understanding the cause and finding more effective means to prevent and treat glaucoma.

Yuki K, et al. 2010. Elevated Serum Immunoglobulin G Titers Against Chlamydia Pneumoniae In Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients Without Systemic Disease. J Glaucoma. Oct-Nov 2010. 19(8): 535-9. Doi: 10.1097/IJG.0b013e3181ca7868; Deshpande N, et al. 2008. Helicobacter Pylori IgG Antibodies in Aqueous Humor and Serum of Subjects With Primary Open Angle and Pseudo-Exfoliation Glaucoma In A South Indian Population. J Glaucoma. Dec 2008. 17(8):605-10. Doi: 10.1097/IJG.0b013e318166f00b. PMID. 19092454; Kountouras J, et al. 2001. Relationship Between Helicobactor Pylori Infection and Glaucoma. Ophthalmology. Mar 2001. 108(3): 599-604. PMID: 11237916. Doi: https://doi.org.10.1016/S0161-6420(00)00598-4.