Glaucoma Classification

The glaucomas can be classified into two main types, namely, open angle glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma. As the names imply, in open angle glaucoma the anterior chamber angle is not manifestly occluded while in angle closure glaucoma the anterior chamber angle is obstructed, usually by the iris.

Open angle and angle closure glaucoma are each divided into primary and secondary types: primary open angle glaucoma, primary angle closure glaucoma, secondary open angle glaucoma and secondary angle closure glaucoma. Primary means there is no identifiable cause for the glaucoma or the cause is inherent in the eye. The term primary is used here in the same way that it is used for primary hypertension. Secondary glaucoma means the glaucoma developed due to an initial ocular or systemic disease. Let us take angle recession glaucoma as an example. It is a secondary open angle type of glaucoma because it only occurs if the eye sustained blunt force trauma first.