What are the two forms of primary glaucoma?

What are the two forms of primary glaucoma?

• A. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma
• B. Angle-Closure Glaucoma and Normal Tension Glaucoma
• C. Open-Angle Glaucoma and Closed-Angle Glaucoma
• D. Congenital Glaucoma and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Answer: (C)

Primary glaucoma is categorized by the status of the drainage angle in the eye. The two forms are open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma, the angle between the iris and cornea remains open, but outflow through the trabecular meshwork is reduced, leading to a gradual, often painless rise in intraocular pressure over time. Vision loss tends to be slow and insidious. In angle-closure glaucoma, the angle is narrow or closed, blocking outflow of aqueous humor. This can cause a sudden, painful spike in pressure with symptoms like eye pain, red eye, halos, and headache, or can present more quietly in a chronic form. These two categories capture the main primary glaucoma patterns, distinguishing the mechanism by which outflow is impeded.

Primary glaucoma is categorized by the status of the drainage angle in the eye. The two forms are open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma.

In open-angle glaucoma, the angle between the iris and cornea remains open, but outflow through the trabecular meshwork is reduced, leading to a gradual, often painless rise in intraocular pressure over time. Vision loss tends to be slow and insidious.

In angle-closure glaucoma, the angle is narrow or closed, blocking outflow of aqueous humor. This can cause a sudden, painful spike in pressure with symptoms like eye pain, red eye, halos, and headache, or can present more quietly in a chronic form.

These two categories capture the main primary glaucoma patterns, distinguishing the mechanism by which outflow is impeded.