Patient's question:
Cannot see clearlyDoctor's answer:
The Formation of GlaucomaThe internal pressure of the eye—intraocular pressure—depends on the amount of aqueous humor. The eye's aqueous humor system can be likened to a sink that is always open, with the eye's drainage canals resembling the drain pipes connected to the sink. If the kitchen sink is functioning normally, water flowing from the pipes is smoothly and quickly drained from the sink. If the eye's aqueous humor system works properly, the amount of aqueous humor produced should exactly equal the amount of aqueous humor drained.
Glaucoma is characterized by abnormally elevated intraocular pressure → damage to the optic nerve → visual field defects. The occurrence of glaucoma is caused by abnormally elevated intraocular pressure, which is typically due to dysfunction of the eye's pump system, such as blocked or covered drainage canals, while the ciliary body continues to produce aqueous humor. In other words, the water tap is still open, but the sink's drain pipes are blocked.